William Edwards (school inspector)
Encyclopedia
William Edwards was a Welsh
school inspector for nearly 50 years and a writer on educational topics.
, North Wales, and after being educated in Denbigh and at the Liverpool Institute, studied at The Queen's College, Oxford
. He matriculated
in 1869, and obtained first-class degrees in Classics
and in Mathematics (B.A.
1873, M.A. 1876). He was appointed a Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford
in 1874, holding this position until 1877.
In 1877, Edwards was appointed as one of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools
and thereafter spent thirty-eight years inspecting schools in Glamorgan
, South Wales. In 1884, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the post of first principal of the new University College of North Wales, Bangor, the position going to Harry Reichel. Reaching retirement age in 1915, he nonetheless accepted the invitation of the Central Welsh Board for Intermediate Education to succeed Owen Owen
as chief inspector. He became a member of the Secondary Schools Examination Council in 1920. He wrote extensively on the subject of education, suggesting in 1929 in A New Proposal that a school certificate should be issued to each pupil, giving information about the value of the pupil's work in every subject examined. He retired in 1926, having been given an honorary LL.D. degree by the University of Wales
in 1925. Edwards died in Merthyr Tydfil
, where he had long lived, on 12 February 1940.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
school inspector for nearly 50 years and a writer on educational topics.
Life
Edwards was born in DenbighDenbigh
Denbigh is a market town and community in Denbighshire, Wales. Before 1888, it was the county town of Denbighshire. Denbigh lies 8 miles to the north west of Ruthin and to the south of St Asaph. It is about 13 miles from the seaside resort of Rhyl. The town grew around the glove-making industry...
, North Wales, and after being educated in Denbigh and at the Liverpool Institute, studied at The Queen's College, Oxford
The Queen's College, Oxford
The Queen's College, founded 1341, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Queen's is centrally situated on the High Street, and is renowned for its 18th-century architecture...
. He matriculated
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
in 1869, and obtained first-class degrees in Classics
Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores is the name given to an undergraduate course focused on Classics at Oxford and some other universities.The Latin name means literally "more humane letters", but is perhaps better rendered as "Advanced Studies", since humaniores has the sense of "more refined" or "more learned",...
and in Mathematics (B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
1873, M.A. 1876). He was appointed a Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
in 1874, holding this position until 1877.
In 1877, Edwards was appointed as one of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools
Office for Standards in Education
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
and thereafter spent thirty-eight years inspecting schools in Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
, South Wales. In 1884, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the post of first principal of the new University College of North Wales, Bangor, the position going to Harry Reichel. Reaching retirement age in 1915, he nonetheless accepted the invitation of the Central Welsh Board for Intermediate Education to succeed Owen Owen
Owen Owen (school inspector)
Owen Owen was a Welsh teacher who, after being headmaster of a successful private school for boys in Oswestry, Shropshire, became the first Chief Inspector of the Central Welsh Board for Intermediate Education.-Life:...
as chief inspector. He became a member of the Secondary Schools Examination Council in 1920. He wrote extensively on the subject of education, suggesting in 1929 in A New Proposal that a school certificate should be issued to each pupil, giving information about the value of the pupil's work in every subject examined. He retired in 1926, having been given an honorary LL.D. degree by the University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
in 1925. Edwards died in Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
, where he had long lived, on 12 February 1940.