Tristram Jones-Parry

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tristram Jones-Parry is a former British teacher of mathematics and former headmaster of Emanuel School and Westminster School, independent schools in the UK.

He became involved in media and political controversy in 2004, when on retiring from independent schools at the age of 58, after 30 years' teaching experience, applied to teach in a state school in order to "give a bit back", but was rejected by the General Teaching Council on the basis that he had not completed the PGCE teacher training course which is obligatory for teachers in the state sector but not in the independent schools, insisting also that they were obliged to apply this rule rigidly [1]. Critics of the decision labelled it “totally absurd”, given Mr Jones-Parry's long teaching experience in leading independent schools, and as Headmaster of Westminster - frequently cited as one of the most academically successful schools in the country. The growing media controversy surrounding the issue, further spotlighted what many saw as a particularly onerous example of bureaucratic pedantry, leading to pressure on the then Education Secretary Charles Clarke from his own advisers to change the rules [2]. Following a decision that the rules were necessary in order to preserve standards, the National Union of Teachers and NASUWT endorsed it, and the Teacher Training Agency stated that a fast-track route for qualified teachers already exists. [3] [4] [5]

Mr Jones-Parry is now manager of the Oxfordshire Further Mathematics Centre. [6]