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Ray Whiteley obituary

My father, Ray Whiteley, who has died aged 91, was a headteacher and champion of the comprehensive system based on his belief that opportunities should be open to all children, regardless of income or family background.

He was born in Leeds, the son of Albert Whiteley, a wages clerk, and his wife, Ivy (nee Stephenson). He attended West Leeds high school and then, the first of his family to go to university, he studied English literature at Leeds University, and followed this with teacher training.

In 1957 he married Joan Flanagan, also a teacher, converting to Catholicism. They had seven children; our family moved to different parts of Britain as he sought promotion in Catholic schools.

He taught at St Bede’s Roman Catholic school in Bradford in the late 1950s and early 60s, then at Lawn School secondary modern in Swindon (now Lawn Manor academy). In 1968 he became deputy head at St Anthony’s RC school, Middlesbrough, before taking over as headteacher at St John’s school in Gravesend, Kent, in 1971.

Education in Kent in the 70s and 80s was controversial territory. At his interview for the role of headteacher at St John’s, he made clear his ambition of converting the school, a Catholic secondary, into a comprehensive, in line with government policy.

In Kent, there was a strong campaign to keep grammar schools, but voluntary-aided faith schools were able to convert to the comprehensive model, which included sixth forms. By the mid-70s, St John’s had established a sixth form and comprehensive status, although other local schools remained as secondary moderns, with selection at 13 to grammar schools.

After retirement in 1984, he and Joan moved to the coast at Hythe, and later lived in Horsham, West Sussex, for more than 20 years. Joan died last year.

Ray was an old-school Manchester Guardian liberal, supportive of social inclusion. But he disliked permissiveness and rock music. He was a life-long supporter of Leeds United, and was delighted to live to see his team return to the Premier League.

Ray is survived by his children, Catherine, Andrew, Felicity, Anne, Peter and me, and by 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Another son, Michael, died in 2011.