Brian Sherratt (educator)
Dr Brian Sherratt OBE JP FIMgt FRSA is an English political science researcher with a particular interest in Whitehall bureaucracy and the role of the permanent secretary. Formerly he was headmaster (1984–2005) of Great Barr School, a secondary school on Aldridge Road in Great Barr, Birmingham, England, for children aged 11 to 19. During his time as headmaster, Great Barr was the largest school in the UK. Acclaim He is acclaimed with making Great Barr School one of the best in the country until his formal retirement from the school in August 2005. Under Sherratt's leadership, Great Barr was noted as a school with very high standards of pupil behaviour and pupil achievement. For these reasons, the school was heavily oversubscribed by parents on first choices. Visiting Great Barr School in November 1999, Sir Chris Woodhead, the then Chief Inspector of Schools, said "You have here an outstanding city comprehensive school – it is one of the most impressive schools I have visited. Great Barr School shows it is possible for a comprehensive school to give a very high quality of education". He added that "the secret of the school's success is strong, assertive leadership from the headteacher". Sherratt was awarded the OBE for services to education in the 1995 New Years Honours. Sherratt was noted for providing his deputy heads with training and professional opportunities to equip them for headship. Among those who, over the years, worked as deputy heads under Brian Sherratt's leadership are Jenny Hawkins, who became Director of Education for Staffordshire; Carol Whitty, Deputy General Secretary of NAHT; John Martin, Head of Warley High School, Sandwell, Dame Maureen Brennan, Head of Barr Beacon School and formerly Head of Hillcrest School and Community College in Netherton, West Midlands; Ian Fraser, Head of Ashfield School, Nottingham; Glen Goddard, Head of Menzies High School, West Bromwich; Neil Finlay, Head of Walton High School, Stafford; Billy Downie, Head of The Streetly School, Sutton Coldfield; Kate Abbott, formerly Head of The Bluecoat School, Walsall, and subsequently Head of Great Barr School. Earlier career Earlier in his career Sherratt had worked in grammar and comprehensive schools and was a lecturer at Avery Hill College, now part of the University of Greenwich. Before taking up the headship of Great Barr School in 1984, Sherratt was headmaster and warden (1979–1984) of Kirk Hallam School and Community Centre, (now Kirk Hallam Community Technology College), Ilkeston, Derbyshire. In February 1983 Kirk Hallam School underwent a full inspection by Her Majesty's Inspectorate, Department for Education and Science, Report by HM Inspectors on Kirk Hallam Comprehensive School, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, 7–11 February 1983, S910/4135/04 196/83 SZ 20/83. This was one of the first published inspection reports as introduced by Sir Keith Joseph during his time as Secretary of State for Education and Science. The inspection by a team of 19 HMIs was described by Sherratt as "the most penetrating and analytical in which I have ever been involved". In paragraph 18 of the published report HMI state that Kirk