Cyril Taylor (educationist)

Cyril Taylor (born 1935, died 2018) was a British educationist, businessman, and politician known primarily for his role in the development of grant-maintained schools and academy schools in the United Kingdom.

Taylor was a prominent figure in Conservative politics, serving as a member of the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) and later the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames council. He was a strong advocate for school choice and greater autonomy for schools.

He played a significant role in the introduction of grant-maintained schools in the 1980s, which allowed schools to opt out of local authority control and receive funding directly from central government. He served as chairman of the Grant Maintained Schools Centre, an organization that promoted and supported grant-maintained schools.

Later, Taylor became a key proponent of academy schools, which are state-funded, independently run schools that have greater freedom over their curriculum and governance. He founded and chaired the Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), one of the largest academy chains in England. Under his leadership, AET grew to encompass numerous schools across the country.

Taylor's work in education was often controversial, attracting both strong support and criticism. Supporters lauded his efforts to improve school standards and provide greater opportunities for students, while critics raised concerns about the impact of his policies on social equity and the role of local authorities in education. He was knighted in 2006 for services to education.