University of Roehampton - History

History

The university has its roots in the traditions of its four constituent colleges, all of which were founded in the 19th century as teacher training colleges:

• Whitelands College – Founded in 1841, the college is one of the five oldest institutions for training educators in England. A flagship women's college of the Church of England, it was the first college of higher education in the UK to admit women. It occupies a 14-acre site overlooking Richmond Park.
• Southlands College – Founded in 1872, the college derives it ethos from its Methodist foundation. It offers an open and valuable community for all of its members, and regularly organises a range of events and activities to help build and support the community.
• Digby Stuart College – Established in 1874 as a teacher training college for Roman Catholic women. The college owes its existence to the Society of the Sacred Heart, whose members continue to support the college and the university.
• Froebel College – Founded in 1892, the college was established to further the values of Friedrich Froebel, the German educationalist who pioneered a holistic view of child development. It is one of the UK’s major centres for initial teacher training.

All four colleges were founded to address the need to educate poor and disadvantaged children.

1975, these four historic colleges came together to form the Roehampton Institute of Higher Education (RIHE). From 1975 to 1984, the Institute's degrees were validated by the University of London.

In 1984, RIHE became a constituent college of the University of Surrey. In 2000, RIHE became an equal partner in the Federal University of Surrey (along with the original University of Surrey in Guildford), and became known as the University of Surrey Roehampton.

In late-2003, the University of Surrey Roehampton announced that it would submit an application for independent university status to the Department for Education and Skills. The application was submitted on 18 March 2004. The name chosen was "Roehampton University". The application was considered by the Privy Council, and on 23 June 2004 it was announced that independent university status was to be granted. On 1 August 2004, the University of Surrey Roehampton became Roehampton University. The Federal University of Surrey was therefore dissolved on this date.

John Simpson became the first Chancellor of Roehampton University in 2005.