Catalogue description Records of Committee on Higher Education (Robbins Committee)

The Committee on Higher Education, chaired by Lord Robbins, was established by Treasury minute of 8 February 1961 to review the pattern of full-time higher education in Great Britain and to advise on its long-term future developments.

Its terms of reference were, 'To review the pattern of full-time higher education in Great Britain and in the light of national needs and resources to advise Her Majesty's Government on what principles its long-term development should be based. In particular, to advise, in the light of these principles, whether there should be any changes in that pattern, whether any new types of institution are desirable and whether any modifications should be made in the present arrangements for planning and co-ordinating the development of the various types of institution.' It was stated by the prime minister that 'the long-term development of universities, colleges of advanced technology, certain other colleges of further education and teacher training colleges, will be within these terms of reference.'

The first meeting of the committee was held on 16 March 1961 and its final meeting on 7 September 1963. Its report (Cmnd 2154) was published in October 1963.