University of Gloucestershire to confer honorary degrees on former Certificate of Education graduates

University of Gloucestershire will honour alumni who completed a Certificate of Education (Cert Ed) between 1955-1982 at all its predecessor institutions.

Held in The Chapel at Francis Close Hall Campus on 5 September, the event will run multiple ceremonies to confer Honorary Bachelor of Education Degrees upon hundreds of eligible former students.

Among the alumni to be conferred with the honorary degree is Sandra Walton OBE, who attended St Mary’s College from 1964-67 where she studied Divinity and Craft.

Sandra recalls the strict rules at the College: “scarves and cloaks were mandatory, girls were not allowed to wear trousers, and male visitors were limited to two hours on Sundays!”

After graduating, Sandra taught in Leicester and Oxford, where she found her passion for supporting children with learning difficulties. After having three children of her own, Sandra moved to Birmingham where she taught for 25 years. In 1997, she was appointed Headteacher at the then “3rd worst school in Britain”– Allens Croft Primary.

The school was transformed under her leadership, seeing a 300% improvement in test results. Sandra won Teacher of the Year at the 2002 Pride of Britain Awards for her incredible work, and the following year became an OBE for service to Education in Birmingham.

Sandra said: “My time at the College was wonderful and I am incredibly grateful for the foundation and love for teaching St Mary’s gave me. The College and Cheltenham hold a special place in my heart.”

Peter Mothersole, now entering his 50^th year of teaching, is also accepting an honorary degree. Peter graduated from St Paul’s College in 1976, studying PE during the time that St Paul’s was a recognised ‘wing’ college – reflecting the high standards of teacher training. During his college years, Peter played for both the Tennis and Football teams, becoming the only first-year to make the Football 1st team.

Beginning his career at Collingwood Community College in Surrey, Peter progressed to Head of Boys PE over the 12 years he was there.

In 1989 he earned an MA in ‘Religious Studies, Philosophy and Ethics’ and went on to fulfil multiple roles including Head of PE and RE at the Duchy Grammar School in Truro.

Although Peter briefly retired in 2023 at the age of 70, he soon returned to the classroom and now teaches Religious Studies at the prestigious King Edward’s School in Witley, Surrey.

Peter said of the event: “It is lovely to be honoured after all these years. Congratulations to all graduates, and University of Gloucestershire for putting on this event and recognising us.”

The Certificate of Education was previously the standard qualification for entry into the teaching profession, however since the early 1980s, students now graduate with a Bachelor of Education degree.

Many Cert Ed graduates have dedicated their careers to inspiring students and communities, and educating young people globally – a commitment the University is proud to be formally honouring.

Dr Matthew Andrews, Chief Operating Officer and Pro Vice-Chancellor, said: “We are delighted to welcome our Cert Ed graduates onto campus to celebrate their incredible achievements. Their passion and service for teaching deserve recognition and we are honoured to confer them with their well-deserved bachelor’s degree.

“We are exceptionally proud of our heritage in training the teachers of the future – this dates back more than 175 years. Welcoming back so many of our esteemed alumni will help to inspire current cohorts of trainee teachers, so it really will be a fantastic occasion for all.

“The event coincides with the recent opening of our new City Campus in the heart of Gloucester, which has now become the home of our teaching programmes, marking the start of a new chapter in our long history of teacher training.”

Main Image: The St Paul’s and St Mary’s College Chapel Choir, 1965 (photo credit: Jillian Bacon)