Catalogue description Department of Education and Science and predecessors: Technical Branch and Further Education Branch: Major Establishments, Registered Files (T Series)

The re-organisation of the outer London boroughs in 1965 necessitated a new series of file numbers and the establishments concerned are listed under the T 300 series of numbers. Former or revised titles are shown where appropriate and the alternative file number is bracketed after the first entry. Thus, in cases where establishments now in outer London were previously within another local education authority, the files for the earlier period are listed under the former authority.

Before 1956 these establishments were organised in a 'three-tier' system of regional, area and local colleges, the nomenclature depending on the type and level of the courses offered. They were variously styled, eg technical colleges; colleges of technology; technical institutes; colleges of further education; largely according to local preference or tradition.

In 1956 the Government's White Paper on Technical Education (Cmd 9703) proposed a fourth tier - colleges of advanced technology - and Circular 305, issued on 21 June 1956, elaborated on how this 'four-tier' system could best contribute to the White Paper's policy in order to conserve resources and ensure the national distribution of teaching staff.

This system operated until 1963 when, in anticipation of the Robbins Report, the colleges of advanced technology, whose work was concentrated on that of university standard, were removed from local education authority control and financed by direct grant.

The Robbins Report subsequently recommended that these colleges be upgraded to technological universities with degree awarding status. Within this revised 'three-tier' system local education authorities and regional advisory councils for further education worked together to develop a regional pattern of colleges and courses.

The Harris College, Preston, was, exceptionally, planned and constructed under the guidance of the development group of the Department's Architects and building Branch.