Bernstein , Bernard Basil , 1924-2000 , sociologist

Bernard Basil Bernstein (1924-2000) was educated at Christ's College, Finchley, London. After serving in the RAF during World War Two, he went on to study sociology at the London School of Economics, graduating in 1951. Meanwhile he also undertook social work, being a resident Settlement Worker at the Bernard Baron Settlement in Stepney, London, from 1947-1949, where he undertook family case work, youth club work, community organisation and participated in 'delinquent camps'. He went on to train as a teacher at Westminster Training College (1953-1954) and then taught a range of subjects at the City Day College, Golden Lane (1954-1960), becoming a Research Assistant at University College London (1960-1963) and obtaining a PhD from the University of London in 1963. From 1962 to 1967 Bernstein was a Reader in the Sociology of Education at the University of London Institute of Education, being Head of the Sociological Research Unit from 1962 and Professor in the Sociology of Education from 1967. From 1979 he was the Karl Mannheim Professor in the Sociology of Education at the Institute and from 1984 was Senior Pro-Director and Pro-Director Research. After his retirement in 1991 Bernsetin became an Emeritus Professor. He held honorary degrees from several different universities. Bernstein was influential in the field of socio-linguistics. His published works, in particular the five volumes of the series on Class, Codes and Control, have become classics in the field.