Papers of Martin Lightfoot (1942-1999)

These papers mainly relate to Lightfoot's career from 1981, when he joined Brunel University, onwards. There are a small amount of papers relating to his work for the University of Reading, Schools Council Industry Project, Select Committee on Education, Science and the Arts and the Education Reform Group. There are extensive papers relating to Lightfoot's work for Brunel University including lecture and teaching notes on public and social administration, school management, equal opportunities and education, multiculturalism in education and educational politics and government; material relating to the research projects 'Expectations of Higher Education' and 'Recreating Education: London and Education Reform'; general papers relating to the work of Centre for the Study of Community and Race Relations and the Education Policy Centre, including papers relating to Lightfoot's role as external advisor to Southwark Borough Council after the abolition of the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA). Also included are papers reflecting Lightfoot's general interests in race relations, public administration and education.

Martin Lightfoot (1942-1999) was educated at St. Christopher's School, Letchworth, Tiffin School, Kingston and Downing College Cambridge where he read English. Between 1965 and 1966 he was a Research Assistant at the University of Reading. Between 1966 and 1974 Lightfoot worked as Director of Penguin Books Ltd and Managing Director of Penguin Education. In 1974 Lightfoot was appointed Deputy Education Officer (Services) at the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) where he was responsible for relations with the Inner London Boroughs and the Greater London Council, and community and race relations issues. In 1977 he became Director of the Schools Council Industry Project, conducted jointly with the Confederation of British Industry and Trades Union Congress. From 1981-1983 he served as Specialist Adviser to the Select Committee on Education, Science and Arts where he was responsible for the drafting of reports, including on secondary examinations and curriculum, school meals and 16-19 education. In 1983 Lightfoot took up an academic post at Brunel University, where he was a Senior Research Fellow. He became Director of the Centre for the Study of Community and Race Relations in 1984 and held the post until 1988 when he was appointed Co-Director of the Education Policy Centre. At Brunel, Lightfoot lectured on law and public services in the Departments of Law and Government, and taught education policy and management, community and race relations, education policy and public service organisation on postgraduate courses in Public and Social Administration. His research projects included 'Expectations of higher education' (1981-1984) during which the perspectives of undergraduates, graduate employers, academic staff, politicians and administrators were examined and 'Recreating Education: London and Education Reform' (1989-1992), which was funded by the Leverhulme Trust and examined the process of setting up education authorities in the inner London boroughs subsequent to the break-up of ILEA. Whilst working for the Education Police Centre, he also acted as a consultant to the London Borough of Southwark during its preparations to take over educational administration from ILEA. He retired from Brunel University in 1991 and worked as an independent educational consultant. During 1992-1993 he was a Visiting Fellow at the Department of Policy Studies, Institute of Education, University of London. During his career he was also a key supporter of the National Association for the Teaching of English and a member of the Education Reform Group.

The collection has been organised into eight series as follows:

1 - University of Reading, 1965-1966

2 - Schools Council Industry Project, 1977-1981

3 - Select Committee on Education, Science and Arts, 1981-1983

4 - Brunel University, 1983-1990

5 - Education Reform Group

6 - Lightfoot Publishing Limited

7 - Publications and Articles

8 - Newspaper Cuttings

Open

Open, subject to signature of Reader Application Form.

Given by Hilary Street, Lightfoot's executor, in Feb 2000.

CALM

A reader wishing to publish any quotation of information, including pictorial, derived from any archive material must apply in writing for prior permission from the Archivist or other appropriate person(s) as indicated by the Archivist. A limited number of photocopies may be supplied at the discretion of the Archivist.

Duplicates, publications already held by the Library and papers about the central administration of Brunel University and Southwark Borough Council have been removed.

The papers were transferred from Lightfoot's house in 2000.

None expected

Reports and minutes of the Select Committee on Education, Science and the Arts are held by the Institue's Library.