Sir Alexander Bradshaw Clegg (13 June 1909 – 20 January 1986 in Yorkshire) was an English educationalist. He was the innovative Chief Education Officer of the West Riding of Yorkshire County Council for whom he worked from 1945 to 1974. The son of a schoolmaster, Clegg was born in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, and was educated at

Long Eaton Grammar School Long may refer to: Measurement * Long, characteristic of something of great duration * Long, characteristic of something of great length * Longitude (abbreviation: long.), a geographic coordinate * Longa (music), note value in early music mensu ...

and Bootham School before attending Clare College, Cambridge, where he took a degree in modern languages. When he completed his degree he attended the London Day Training College. He then got a job at St Clement Danes' Holborn Estate Grammar School, where he taught French and games between 1932 and 1937. Between 1939 and 1945, Clegg worked for Birmingham,

Cheshire Cheshire ( ) is a ceremonial and historic county in North West England, bordered by Wales to the west, Merseyside and Greater Manchester to the north, Derbyshire to the east, and Staffordshire and Shropshire to the south. Cheshire's county t ...

, and Worcestershire education authorities before being appointed, in 1945, to the post of Deputy Chief Education Officer of the West Riding at the age of 34. The West Riding started on the road to becoming a pioneering and innovative authority when later that year he was appointed Chief Education Officer. During his tenure at the West Riding, Clegg was instrumental in introducing the first of thousands of

Middle schools A middle school (also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school) is an educational stage which exists in some countries, providing education between primary school and secondary school. ...

to the United Kingdom as part of a change to three-tier education initially in Hemsworth. He was instrumental in founding Bretton Hall College which opened in 1949. His focus was always on children as learners. Clegg was

knighted A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...

in the birthday honours list of June 1965. Papers of Sir Alec Clegg are held a
West Yorkshire Archive Service
in Wakefield. His nephew is

David Attenborough Sir David Frederick Attenborough (; born 8 May 1926) is an English broadcaster, biologist, natural historian and author. He is best known for writing and presenting, in conjunction with the BBC Natural History Unit, the nine natural histor ...

Bibliography

* ''The Excitement of Writing'' (1964) * ''Children in Distress'' (1969) * ''Excitement of Writing'' (1970) * ''Changing Primary School'' (1972) * "Recipe for Failure" (National Children's Home convocation lecture, 1972) * ''Changing Primary School: Its Problems and Priorities'' (1972) * ''Enjoying Writing: Further Collection of Children's Poetry and Prose'' (1973)

References

External links

Talk given by Sir Alec Clegg at Bingley College of Education in 1974

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clegg, Alec People educated at Bootham School Alumni of Clare College, Cambridge People associated with the University of Leeds Fellows of King's College London People from Long Eaton 1909 births 1986 deaths Knights Bachelor