Celebrating 50 Years of Education at York

Posted on 10 May 2013

Current and former staff and students gathered to celebrate the Department of Education’s 50th Birthday at a party on 2 May

The Department of Education, like the University, is celebrating its 50^th anniversary in 2013. The Department has been there since the start but has doubled in size over the last five years. Therefore, there was no shortage of guests for the Department’s 50^th birthday party. Current and former staff and students gathered in Hendrix Hall to celebrate and reminisce. Guests included surviving former Heads of Department, academic and administrative staff past and present, and current students and alumni. Memories were shared over tea and cake, and current and former staff and students chatted about their experiences in the Department of Education over the last 50 years.

The Department's achievements represent the collective aspirations and endeavour of all its members – its staff and students, past and present

Professor Judith Bennett, Head of Department

Professor Judith Bennett, current Head of the Department of Education said, "The Department of Education is one of the six founding departments of the University, and our birthday party on 2 May 2013 was just one of the many events taking place this year to celebrate 50 years of education at York. The Department's achievements represent the collective aspirations and endeavour of all its members – its staff and students, past and present. As a former student of the Department, it is a privilege to be Head of Department, and I am very proud of everything that has been achieved in our first 50 years. I am confident that current and future staff and students will ensure many more successes in the next 50 years and beyond".

A series of events to celebrate 50 Years of Education at York are taking place throughout 2013. In February, Professor Maggie Snowling of St John’s College Oxford gave a public lecture on dyslexia and in March, the Department celebrated its close links with schools at an event attended by local schools. The guest speaker was Charlie Taylor, the Chief Executive of the Teaching Agency and the National College for School Leadership and former Coalition Government behaviour expert. Further public lectures are being given by space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE on 12 June, the Department of Education’s new Psychology in Education Research Centre Leader Professor Rob Klassen on 21 October, former Education Secretary Baroness Estelle Morris on 14 November, and Director of Globe Education Patrick Spottiswoode (date to be confirmed). An academic conference is taking place on 2 July and a reunion is being held on 8 November. Current students are also organising fundraising events throughout the year. For full details of the programme of events and how to register, please see the Department’s 50^th anniversary website at http://www.york.ac.uk/education/news-events/events/50/.‌