Tony Sewell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Sewell of Sanderstead
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Official portrait, 2024
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| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| Assumed office 16 December 2022 Life peerage |
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| Chair of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities | |
| In office July 2020 – 28 April 2021 |
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| Prime Minister | Boris Johnson |
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Cleveland Anthony Sewell
6 August 1959 Brixton, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
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| Occupation | Educational consultant |
Cleveland Anthony Sewell, also known as Lord Sewell of Sanderstead, was born on August 6, 1959. He is a British expert in education. He started and leads a charity called Generating Genius, which helps young people.
In 2020, he was chosen to lead a special group called the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities. This group looked into differences related to race in the UK. He is also a member of the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Tony Sewell was born in Brixton, London. This was on August 6, 1959. He grew up in Penge, another part of London. His parents came to the United Kingdom from Jamaica in the 1950s.
When he was a child, Tony was a Scout. He spent a lot of his teenage years in church youth groups. These groups were in and around Sydenham.
In 1981, Sewell finished his studies at the University of Essex. He earned a degree in English literature. Later, in 1995, he received his PhD degree. This was in education from the University of Nottingham. His research looked at how African-Caribbean boys' culture related to their schooling.
Career Highlights
Teaching Experience
After university, Tony Sewell worked as a school teacher. He taught in Brent, London. He then moved to Jamaica and taught there for two years.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he wrote for a newspaper called The Voice. His column, "Live and Kicking," aimed to make people think. He also hosted a weekly talk show on Choice FM.
After getting his doctorate in 1995, Sewell became a university lecturer. He taught at Kingston University and later at the University of Leeds.
Improving Education
Tony Sewell has worked to make education better. In 2006, he shared his ideas about how schools could improve for boys. He has also been an international education consultant. He worked with groups like the World Bank and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
In 2012, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, asked Sewell to lead a study. This study looked at challenges for schools in London. As a result, the government provided £26 million to help teachers improve their knowledge. This was part of the London Schools Excellence Fund.
Youth Justice Work
In October 2015, Sewell joined the Youth Justice Board. This board works with young people in England and Wales.
Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities
In July 2020, Tony Sewell was chosen to lead a government group. This group, the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, studied race differences in the UK.
The group published its report in March 2021. It said that racism exists in the UK. However, it concluded that the UK was not institutionally racist. This means that racism is not built into the main systems of the country. The report received different reactions. Some people praised it, while others disagreed with its findings.
In March 2022, the government published its official response. This report, called "Inclusive Britain," accepted all the recommendations from Sewell's report.
Becoming a Peer
On October 14, 2022, it was announced that Tony Sewell would become a life peer. This means he would join the House of Lords for life. On December 16, 2022, he was given the title Baron Sewell of Sanderstead. This title comes from Sanderstead in Surrey.
Awards and Recognitions
Tony Sewell has received several awards for his work:
- In 2016, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This was for his services to education.
- In 2017, he received an honorary LLD degree from the University of Exeter.
- In 2018, he became an Honorary Fellow of University College London.
- In 2019, he received another honorary LLD degree from the University of Essex.
- Also in 2019, he received an honorary degree from the University of Nottingham. This degree was later withdrawn in 2022.
- In 2022, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Buckingham.
