Cyril Taylor (educationist)

Cyril Taylor
Taylor in 2006
High Sheriff of Greater London
In office
1996–1997
Appointed byElizabeth II
Preceded byGraham Hearne
Succeeded byWilliam Harrison
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
for the Greater London Council
In office
1983–1986
Opposition leaderAlan Greengross
Preceded byAlan Greengross
Succeeded byCouncil abolished
Member of the Greater London Council
for Ruislip-Northwood
In office
1977–1986
Preceded byBernard Brown
Succeeded byCouncil abolished
Majority17,147 (30.9%)
Personal details
Born(1935-05-14)14 May 1935
Leeds, Yorkshire, England
Died29 January 2018(2018-01-29) (aged 82)
South Kensington, London, England
Political party
Spouse
Judith Denman Taylor
(m. 1965)
Children1 daughter
Signature
Military service
Branch/serviceBritish Army
Years of service1954–1956
RankSecond Lieutenant
UnitKing's African Rifles
Battles/warsMau Mau rebellion

Sir Cyril Julian Hebden Taylor GBE FRSA (14 May 1935 – 29 January 2018) was a British educator and social entrepreneur, who founded the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS) in 1964. He served as an education reformer and special adviser to successive elected British Governments from 1987 to 2007 and founded the City Technology Colleges Trust, subsequently the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT).

Taylor founded Richmond University[1] the American International University in London in 1971. The University is accredited in the United States and designated by the Department of Education of HM Government in the UK.[2] Taylor was Chancellor[1] of the university which has 1,200 students from 100 countries.[3]

Taylor was appointed a director of Margaret Thatcher’s Think Tank, the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) and began his political career on the Greater London Council (GLC) as the member for Ruislip-Northwood. Following the abolition of the GLC in 1986, Taylor was called upon by Thatcher, Prime Minister, to assist with the emerging problem of rising youth unemployment.[4] It was during this time that Taylor founded the City Technology Colleges Trust (CTCT), subsequently renamed the Specialist Schools Trust, and renamed again as the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) where he remained Chairman until 2007. Between 1987 until 2007, Taylor served as Education Adviser to ten successive Secretaries of State for Education on the Specialist Schools and Academies initiatives.

Taylor was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the 1989 Birthday Honours for services to education in recognition of the success of the CTC initiative. He was also made a Knight Grand Cross of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE) for services to education in 2004. In 1996, Taylor, was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II as High Sheriff of Greater London.

  1. ^ a b "Richmond University Board of Trustees". Richmond University. Archived from the original on 3 October 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  2. ^ "General Information". Richmond University. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  3. ^ "Message from the President". Richmond University. Archived from the original on 17 February 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Baroness Thatcher & Sir Cyril Taylor City Technology Colleges". SSAT. September 2013. Archived from the original on 12 July 2013.