Institute of Education - History

History

In 1900, a report on the training of teachers, produced by the Higher Education Sub-Committee of the Technical Education Board (TEB) of the London County Council, called for further provision for the training of teachers in London in universities. The TEB submitted a scheme to the Senate of the University of London for a new day training college which would train teachers of both sexes when most existing courses were taught in in single sex colleges or departments. The principal of the proposed college was also to act as the Professor of the Theory, History and Practice of Education at the University. The new college was opened on the 6 October 1902 as the London Day Training College under the administration of the LCC

Its first Principal was Sir John Adams, who had previously been the Professor of Education at University of Glasgow.

Adams was joined with a mistress and master of Method (later Vice-Principals). The bulk of the teaching was carried out by the Vice-Principals and other specialists were appointed to teach specific subjects, including Cyril Burt. Initially the LDTC only provided teacher training courses lasting between 1 and 3 years.

In 1909 the LDTC became a school of the University of London and was wholly transferred to the University and was renamed the University of London, Institute of Education. Gradually the Institute expanded its activities and began to train secondary school teachers and offered higher degrees. It also moved into specific areas of research with its Child Development Department, administered by Susan Sutherland Isaacs and the training of teachers for the colonial service. At the outbreak of World War II, the Institute was temporarly transferred to the University of Nottingham.

As a result of the report of the McNair Committee, which was established by the Board of Education to examine recruitment and training of teachers and youth leaders a new scheme for teacher training was established in England. ‘Area Training Organisations’ (ATO) were created to coordinate the provision of teacher training and were responsible for the overall administration of all colleges of education within their area. The ATO for the London area was based at the University London under the name University of London, Institute of Education, which was responsible for around 30 existing colleges of education and education departments, including the existing Institute of Education. The colleges (known as 'constituent colleges' of the Institute) prepared students for the 'Certificate in Education' of the Institute, and latterly for the Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Humanities degrees of the University. The existing Institute (referred to as the ‘Central Institute’) and the new ATO (referred to as the ‘Wider Institute’) had separate identities, but confusingly were administered from the same building and by the same administrate staff. This dual identity continued until the Wider Institute gradually disappeared and was finally dissolved in 1975, coinciding with the closure (or 'merger' with local polytechnics and other institutions) of many of the colleges of education.

In 1987 the Institute once again became a school of the University of London and was incorporated by Royal Charter.

The Institute of Education and University College London formed a strategic alliance in October 2012, including co-operation in teaching, research and the development of the London schools system.