The London School of Economics, 9 John Street, Adelphi, 10 Adelphi Terrace, then Clare Market and Houghton Street, was founded in 1895 'to promote the study amd advancement of Economics, Political Science or Political Philosophy, Statistics, Sociology, History, Geography and any subject cognate to any of these'. The School was established thanks to a bequest by Henry Hunt Hutchinson (a member of the Fabian Society). He left instructions to Sidney Webb and four other trustees to dispose of what remained of his estate for socially progressive purposes.
The School began at 9 John Street, then moved around the corner to 10 Adelphi Terrace (later the home of George Bernard Shaw). The British Library of Political and Economic Science was founded in 1896 at No. 19. In 1900 the School became part of the University of London. Two years later it moved to Clare Market.
Training for social work and youth work. The first social work training course in the UK was run by the Women’s University Settlement (Blackfriars) (with the Charity Organizations Society). A number of women’s settlements followed offering one year training courses linked to the Charity Organizations Society’s School of Sociology. The School of Sociology was incorporated in 1912 into the London School of Economics.
In 1925 the first specialist professional training course for youth work in Great Britain was established. Prior to this uniformed organizations had instituted rigorous training programmes for their volunteers, however no sustained training programme existed for the small, but growing number of full-time leaders and organizers. The first youth leadership course was designed and organized by the National Council of Girls Clubs and the London School of Economics (Evans 1965: 112). People entering the course had to hold a University Social Science Certificate of two years duration. They also needed to have been undertaking regular youth work practice and to have visited a number of agencies. They then went onto the Certificate course full-time either for 12 months (Certificate II) or 18 months (Certificate I). Those that completed the Certificate I course could then after a further year of experience in responsible work be awarded a Diploma. This was for people exceptionally well qualified for the work of club leadership. Part-timers could take a special certificate in between 18 months and three years (see Rooff 1935: 104-105). Students on the youth work courses had to do placements in social casework and community work agencies such as settlements.
Given some of the current debates concerning training, a number of significant aspects of the Girls' Clubs scheme need to be underlined. First, we can see that the programme was operating at least around the level that we now know as DipHE. Second, as with the early YMCA courses in the States, youth leadership was seen as requiring a solid grounding and expertise in the social sciences. This included social administration, economic and social history, applied economics, psychology and social philosophy. Students also undertook a substantial programme of work in relation to health education and education theory and method (Evans 1965: 115). They were also expected to undertake at least one specialist subject such as music or drama. Third, students were required to engage in practice, supplemented by specialist placements and visits.
Evans, W. M. (1965) Young People in Society, Oxford: Blackwell.
Rooff, M. (1935) Youth and Leisure. A Survey of Girls Organisations in England and Wales, Edinburgh: Carnegie United Kingdom Trust.
Note: This page is part of our virtual walk around the history of informal education (in central London).
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© Mark K. Smith. First published August 30, 2000. Last update: October 01, 2008
