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Estelle Morris to chair new Institute for Effective Education at York

Posted on 25 January 2007

Estelle Morris, the former Secretary of State for Education and Skills, is to chair the strategy board of the new Institute for Effective Education at the University of York.

The appointment takes effect from April this year. Estelle Morris will play a central role in establishing the Institute's profile nationally and internationally.

The Institute aims to produce and translate research into education into effective action to benefit all young people. It will welcome researchers from across the world to develop, test and evaluate their ideas on how to improve education. The Institute will collaborate with others in creating a hub of evidence for education innovation and play a pivotal role in influencing policymakers and practitioners.

The Institute for Effective Education is the result of a visionary concept to create an international, independent resource to produce really effective education for all young people

Estelle Morris

It will be established in a striking purpose-built facility on the University of York campus.

"The Institute for Effective Education is the result of a visionary concept to create an international, independent resource to produce really effective education for all young people," said Estelle Morris.

"Good education is important for its own sake, but crucial to the nation's economic, social and cultural life. The biggest challenge facing us - and the new Institute - is to break the persistent link between poverty and under-achievement.

"I am really pleased to be associated with the new Institute and with the University of York."

The formal launch of the Institute and more detail on its work will follow the appointment of a Director later this year.

Notes to editors:

  • Estelle Morris worked as a teacher from 1974 to 1992 before being elected MP for Birmingham Yardley. She was Secretary of State for Education from 2001 to 2002, and Minister for the Arts from 2003 to 2005. She was made a Life Peer in 2005.
  • The University of York has achieved consistently high marks for the quality of its teaching. It is committed to social justice and access for all, and has a worldwide reputation for the quality of its research into effective education.

Contact details

David Garner
Senior Press Officer

Tel: +44 (0)1904 322153