This book presents a history of the College of Preceptors, now known as the College of Teachers, in the nineteenth century. Since 1846, the College sought to offer, along the lines of the General Medical Council, private teachers a professional council and register. The early members resolved to form a society to provide the public with an examination to test the ability of teachers, and ultimately to exclude the unqualified from the profession. Through the testing of teachers and pupils, the provision of an educational journal, the establishment of a Ladies’ Department, the setting up of local centres throughout the country, and the introduction of England’s first professorship of education, the Preceptors intensified their activities to promote the statutory registration of teachers. Many battles were fought in Parliament between the College, representing private teachers, and the National Union of Teachers. This episode in the history of education, highlighting the relationship between governments and the College of Preceptors, offers fascinating insights into a society whose contribution was vital to the foundations on which our modern educational system is built.

Richard Willis (BSc MPhil FCP) was a member of the Leverhulme Project on teacher training and professional identity and for the duration of this study he was based in the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge. He later was appointed Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Research in Educational Policy and Professionalism in the School of Education, Roehampton University. He gained the FCP in 2000. His major interest is the General Teaching Council Movement and his book titled The Struggle for the GTC was published by RoutledgeFalmer in 2005 in London and New York. He contributes to many magazines and journals, including the Times Educational Supplement, History Today, the Journal of Educational Administration and History, Education Today and Community Care Magazine.

Additional resources:

The College of Teachers
Wikipedia: College of Teachers

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