Bedford College of Higher Education was a
higher education institution in
Bedford,
England, specializing in teacher training.
History
Until 1976, three separate institutions offered tertiary education in
Bedford: Bedford College of Physical Education, founded in 1903 by
Margaret Stansfeld
Margaret Stansfeld (; 10 March 1860 – 28 June 1951) was a British teacher and educator who was the founder and Principal of the Bedford Physical Training College from 1903 to 1945 and promoted physical education for girls.
Career
Stansfel ...
,
in Lansdowne Road (Physical Education training), Bedford College of Education in Polhill Avenue (initial teacher training), and Mander College of Further Education in Cauldwell Street. In 1976 these combined to become Bedford College of Higher Education.
In 1994 the higher education areas merged with the
De Montfort University (based in
Leicester
Leicester ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city, Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest settlement in the East Midlands.
The city l ...
) and the further education part became
Bedford College, Bedford (but still awarding HNDs and Foundation degrees). The teacher-training colleges left De Montfort in 2006 and merged with the
University of Luton
The University of Bedfordshire is a public research university with campuses in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, England. The University has roots from 1882, however, it gained university status in 1993 as the University of Luton. The Universi ...
which changed its name to
University of Bedfordshire.
Between 1940 and 1978 women students at the then Bedford College of Physical Education studied three year programmes in physical education but although these were well-regarded, the programmes were not considered to be degree level. In 2022, after a campaign about the academic and physical rigour of the programmes, over 250 women who had studied there were awarded honorary degrees by the now University of Bedfordshire, recognising the quality of these programmes. Among the honorary graduands were
Lady Sue Campbell and Hilda Moore, a retired England hockey player.
The Lansdowne campus was sold off in 2007 and remaining higher education provision focussed on the Polhill site. The University of Bedfordshire is now the largest provider of secondary physical education teachers in the UK.
See also
*
De Montfort University
*
University of Luton
The University of Bedfordshire is a public research university with campuses in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, England. The University has roots from 1882, however, it gained university status in 1993 as the University of Luton. The Universi ...
*
University of Bedfordshire
*
Hereford College of Education
Hereford College of Education was a teacher training college in the English city of Hereford. The college was established in 1902 and was the only higher education institution in the county of Herefordshire throughout its existence. It provided ...
References
External links
*https://web.archive.org/web/20060109234817/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews/reports/subjectlevel/q39_97_textonly.htm
*https://web.archive.org/web/20080415051141/http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.digitised_resources/bedford_colleges_bedford_training.htm
*https://web.archive.org/web/20210524220710/https://www.bpeosa.co.uk/about-us/history/
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Defunct universities and colleges in England
University of Bedfordshire
Teacher training colleges in the United Kingdom
Educational institutions established in 1976
Educational institutions disestablished in 1994
1976 establishments in England
1994 disestablishments in England
Education in Bedford