Catalogue description South West London College

Contains the records of the South West London College, comprising:
SWLC/1, Press Cuttings, 1990-1991;
SWLC/2, Publications for students, 1991;
SWLC/3, Minutes, 1949-1969, 1988-1991;
SWLC/4, Correspondence, 1989-1993.

Chronological

A profile of the College in 1989 is included in LSBU/9/2/5 PCfC Profiles of Polytechnics and Colleges.

The University of Greenwich holds the following records:

Minutes and papers of the Governing Body, 1989-1991;

Papers relating to the Department of Accountancy, 1989-1990;

Staff meetings and staff circulars, 1989-1990;

Academic Board papers, 1988;

Budget papers, [1988];

Papers relating to policy and procedures for staff and students, [1988];

Education Assets Board, 1989;

Report and papers relating to proposed mergers with Thames Polytechnic and South Bank Polytechnic, 1990;

Strategic plan, 1989;

Marketing plan for 1990-1993;

Prospectuses and course leaflets, 1991-1992.

London Metropolitan Archives holds plans of South West London College from the Department of Building and Property Services of ILEA (Catalogue Reference: ILEA/DBPS/AR/02/006 and ILEA/DBPS/AR/02/074).

South West London College

Please contact the University Archives Centre for details. 24 hours notice is required for research visits.

Acquired on the merger of South West London College with South Bank Polytechnic.

The College was founded in 1966 from the amalgamation of other educational institutions, including a branch institute of Battersea Polytechnic established in Tooting during 1901. The College specialised in degrees and diplomas in Accountancy, Business and Management Studies. In 1967 a Higher National Certificate and the first full time course, specifically designed for the resettlement of members of the armed services, was introduced in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence. The growth of the College saw work spread to a number of annexes, including a Congregational church in Rookstone Road, Wandsworth, a floor of Smallwood Road School, Garrett Lane, and a further school at 10 Wiseton Road. In 1979 the former site of Battersea Grammar School was secured near Tooting Broadway. The College was designated a Higher Education Centre under the Education Reform Act 1988 and by 1991 offered a range of sub-degree level work and good quality post experience courses in Management.
With ongoing accommodation problems and a damning report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate on some of its provision the College's Board of Governors chose in 1990 to amalgamate with Thames Polytechnic. However in November the Secretary of State announced his intention to dissolve the College under the 1988 Education Reform Act and allowing higher education students to choose where they wished to complete their studies. Over 1000 students chose to transfer to South Bank Polytechnic and most of the College's staff followed suit, helping to form the Faculty of Management and Policy Studies. The extra staff were housed in Diary House on Borough Road.