Treasurer: Professor Chris Cook

Chris Cook retired from the University of Hertfordshire in 2004, having previously taught in two HE institutions in London and worked at the Council for National Academic Awards. He also taught in secondary and primary schools and in adult education in the Inner London Education Authority, and at the City College of New York in Harlem. He published research into the preparation of teachers for the inner city, as well as other works in the field of teacher education. Chris was Head of the Department of Education at the University of Hertfordshire from 1994 to 2000.

Chris has also undertaken international consultancy, training and evaluation through agencies such as DFID, the Crown Agents and the British Council, most notably in South Africa. Chris was awarded a personal Chair in Education in 1999 and became Emeritus Professor of Education in 2003. He is now mainly engaged in various external activities connected with teacher education - consultancy, evaluation and policy-making at national levels. However, he remains in frequent contact with schools via tutoring ITT students in primary schools and with teachers following CPD programmes.

Chris has been associated with UCET in various roles for more than ten years. He was Chair of UCET from 2003-05. He sees his new roles as Past-Chair and Treasurer as a further opportunity to give direct support to UCET.

In 2000 he became, as UCET’s representative, a founding member of the General Teaching Council for England, where he represents the interests of teacher education. In 2003, he became Chair of GTC’s Initial Teacher Training (ITT) Committee. Following the reorganisation of the GTCE's committees in 2004, Chris became a member of the Policy & Research Committee. He also participates in the regulatory work of the GTCE, including Induction Appeals and Conduct and Competence Hearings.