Sir Cyril Taylor, the man who led the city technology colleges movement, has died at the age of 82.

Born in Yorkshire in 1935, Sir Cyril was a self-made millionaire who was recruited by Conservative education secretary Kenneth Baker to drive his policy of opening city technology colleges - the forerunners to academies.

He was the founder chairman of the City Technology Colleges Trust in 1987, which subsequently became the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust and later the SSAT.

With a reputation for being outspoken, he advised both the Conservatives and Labour on education policy.

‘Guided our mission’

In a statement on the SSAT’s website, Sue Williamson, the current chief executive of the network, said: “Cyril guided our mission for 20 years with purpose and integrity.

“During that time, he served as an advisor to no less than 10 successive secretaries of state for education on the specialist schools and academies initiative. I’m proud to have worked alongside Cyril - and to have counted him as a supporter of our work at SSAT in more recent years.”

Ms Williamson said Sir Cyril had raised more than £350 million in sponsorship to support schools - and that businesspeople like Lord Harris, the founder of the Harris Federation, had engaged with schools “because of Cyril’s drive and passion”.

She added: “Along with everyone at SSAT, I’d like to convey my deepest sympathies to Sir Cyril’s family and all those who had the privilege to know and work with him.”

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