A leading educationalist has visited Thomas Clarkson Academy to assist his report on inclusion in schools.

Cambridge University’s Professor John MacBeath met with staff and students today (January 15^th) as part of a research project which will be published before the summer.

It is a follow up to the Cost of Inclusion which he co-wrote with Maurice Gaulton in 2006.

As part of the project the professor emeritus will be visiting a number of schools around the country and will then write up his findings.

He said: “I have come here with no preconceived ideas, just a fresh pair of eyes and keen to talk to staff and students.”

Professor MacBeath has had a long and distinguished career in the education, spending many years as a teacher before beginning research into education. He has written many books on self-evaluation within schools and worked with national governments, education authorities and schools on the subject.

He said: “As a child I went to schools in South Africa, Canada, England and Scotland. After attending the school in Scotland I thought  ‘Schools cannot be this bad’  and so decided I would become a teacher to see what schools could be like.”

He said he is amazed by how different schooling is today. He said: “I walked into this building and just though wow. This is how a school should be. It is a fantastic environment, light, spacious and with students art displayed on the walls.”

Mr MacBeath, who was awarded the OBE for services to education in 1997, hopes to return to TCA once the report is published and also to attend for the Children’s University graduation.