"Richard has an impressive track record in achieving excellent educational outcomes, attracting talented undergraduates and postgraduates regardless of their background or means"

A new Senior Tutor has been recruited to steer and develop the academic environment of St John’s College.

Richard Partington, currently Senior Tutor and Fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge, will join St John’s in August, and formally takes up his new role as Senior Tutor from 1 September 2021.

The Senior Tutor is the College’s senior academic officer, providing academic leadership across a broad range of educational activities and student welfare.

Richard Partington grew up in Liverpool and studied History at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge in the late 1980s as the first member of his family to go to university. Richard passionately believes in facilitating social mobility through access to university, and is equally committed to maintaining the highest academic standards. He has been a regular commentator in the national debate on education, access and social mobility during his 14 years as Senior Tutor at Churchill.

Heather Hancock, Master of St John’s, said: “I am delighted that Richard will be joining St John’s as our Senior Tutor. Richard has an impressive track record in achieving excellent educational outcomes, attracting talented undergraduates and postgraduates regardless of their background or means, and creating an environment where students can thrive and be happy.

“I look forward to working with him to sustain outstanding teaching and learning at St John’s, and to ensure that our students fulfil their potential here.”   

Following his undergraduate degree, doctoral research led to a Junior Research Fellowship at Sidney Sussex, followed by a College lectureship in History and the position of Admissions Director. In 2007, Richard moved to Churchill College to be Senior Tutor, where he has also directed studies in History.

An Affiliated Lecturer in the Cambridge Faculty of History, he teaches medieval British politics, and has written and broadcast on politics, war, law and crime in the fourteenth century, especially during the rule of Edward III (1327-77). He is currently writing a history of the state in thirteenth and fourteenth-century England.

Richard has chaired policy committees in the University on student finance and welfare, and on the research underpinning student selection. He sits on the management executive of the University Counselling Service and chairs the joint standards committee of the exam boards OCR, Cambridge Assessment International Examinations and Cambridge English. He is a trustee of a successful academy trust in Lincolnshire.

Richard said: “I am honoured and excited to be joining John’s, a College I have liked and admired since my early years in Cambridge and where I have always received the warmest of welcomes as a visitor.

“St John’s offers an irresistible blend of optimism, community, excellence and willingness to invest in the future, qualities that will serve its students well as the College furthers its educational mission. I dearly hope that I will be able to help focus and maintain the College’s evolution during the years of my appointment. I can’t wait to get started alongside colleagues whom I already hold in high regard.”

In his spare time, Richard likes music, film, literature and art, sport and the outdoors, fixing things and chatting to people.

Published: 14/4/2021

Back to College news