New hopes and prospects for Colleges of Education in England and Wales

Abstract

This contribution offers a statistical and policy analysis of the movements of student enrolment in Colleges of Education and other teacher training institutions in England and Wales. It discusses the situation of the Colleges of Education, which differ widely in size, against the background of educational economics and policy after 1960, in particular the consequences of the rapid increase in the number of students and the resulting overcrowding of these institutions, especially the Colleges of Education. Thus some 1,000 more students than the Robbins Committee had anticipated for 1974 were already enrolled in Colleges of Education in 1969. The preponderance of women students with their specific study motivations also influences the work and results of the Colleges of Education. A principal factor in the organisation and content of the courses is the decision in favour of “concurrent courses” integrating specialist studies with practical teacher training. This design of the study programme will become an important issue in the integration of the Colleges of Education with other institutions where different didactic principles prevail, such as the universities (“consecutive courses”). Another point of crucial significance for the future of the Colleges of Education is the link between teacher training and further education for teachers. In the Annex the student population is analysed and extensive documentation provided on the possibilities of integrating these Colleges with other institutions.