Caroline St John-Brooks facts for kids

Dr. Caroline St. John-Brooks (born March 24, 1947, in Oxford, England – died September 8, 2003, in London, England) was a talented Anglo-Irish journalist and academic. She was known for her important work in education, both as a writer and a researcher. She helped shape how we think about schools and learning.

Early Life and Education

Caroline St. John-Brooks loved learning from a young age. She studied English Literature at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, earning a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. This is usually the first degree you get from a university.

Later, she continued her studies in education. She earned a Master of Arts (MA) degree from the University of Ulster in Coleraine. An MA is a higher degree that shows you have studied a subject in more depth.

In 1980, she earned her PhD from Bristol University. A PhD is the highest university degree, and it means you are an expert in your field. Her PhD focused on how English was taught in secondary schools.

A Career in Education and Journalism

After finishing her studies, Caroline St. John-Brooks worked as an English lecturer. This means she taught English at universities. She taught in Ireland and later at Bristol Polytechnic in England.

She also started writing about education. She was an education writer for The Irish Times, a big newspaper in Ireland. This showed her passion for both writing and education.

Becoming an Education Correspondent

In 1979, Caroline joined the magazine New Society as their Education Correspondent. This job meant she wrote articles and reported on all the important news and changes happening in education.

She then moved to The Sunday Times in 1987, taking on the same role. This was a major newspaper, showing her growing influence.

In 1990, she became the Assistant Editor of the Times Educational Supplement (TES). The TES is a very important newspaper for teachers and everyone involved in education.

Researching Education Around the World

From 1994 to 1997, Caroline worked as an education researcher in Paris, France. She worked for the OECD, which stands for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The OECD is an international group that works to improve economies and social well-being around the world.

While at the OECD, she wrote several important books about education. These included Schools Under Scrutiny (1995), Mapping the Future: Young People and Career Guidance (1996), and Parents as Partners in Schooling (1997). Her research helped countries understand how to make their education systems better.

Leading the Times Educational Supplement

Caroline St. John-Brooks returned to the Times Educational Supplement in 1997, this time as the Editor. This was a very important job, as she was in charge of the entire newspaper.

During her three-and-a-half years as Editor, she made many positive changes. She updated the newspaper and added new sections. She made it more appealing to teachers, especially women, who were becoming a larger part of the education workforce.

She had to leave her role in 2000 due to health reasons. Even after leaving, she continued to contribute to education. From 2001 until her death, she was a Governor of the University of Greenwich. A Governor helps guide the university and make important decisions.

Later Life

Caroline St. John-Brooks passed away in September 2003 in London, at the age of 56. She left behind a legacy of important work in journalism and education. Her contributions helped improve understanding and practices in schools and learning for many years.