University of London School Examinations Board

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0096 UoL/SE
Held at	: Senate House Library, University of London   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.senatehouselibrary.ac.uk/our-collections ›
Full title	: University of London School Examinations Board
Date(s)	: 1908-1995
Level of description	: Subfonds of the University of London View parent record
Extent	: 31 volumes, 74 bundles, 405 boxes,
Name of creator(s)	: University of London | School Examinations Board
Detailed catalogue	: Click here to view repository detailed catalogue

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The School Examination Board was a standing committee of the Senate and was concerned with public examinations primarily designed for pupils in secondary schools.

The University of London has conducted examinations for school pupils since 1838 when the London Matriculation Examination was introduced to determine the admission of candidates for a degree course of the university. The 'London Matric' was open to anyone over the age of 16 and became widely used for purposes other than university entrance.

In 1900 the University was reconstituted and a Matriculation Board was established to conduct the Matriculation Examination and to advise the Senate on matters relating to the admission of students. The Education Act 1902 resulted in the expansion of secondary education and the need was recognised to rationalise the many school leaving examinations, including those conducted by universities, which had developed side by side with the Matriculation Examination. The School Certificate and Higher School Certificate examinations for pupils were introduced in 1918 and following the acceptance of the University as an approved examining body by the Board of Education, the new examinations were conducted on behalf of the University by the Board to Promote the Extension of University Teaching.

Three years after the Hilton Young Report 1926, and the passing of the University of London Act 1926, the Statutes of the University were altered and a new body, the Matriculation and School Examinations Council, was given the dual task of dealing with the Matriculation Examination and the School Certificate Examinations. The Council continued in existence until 1951 when the General Certificate of Education Examination, open to all not just school pupils, replaced the School Certificate and Higher School Certificate Examinations which had been restricted to school children. The Matriculation Examination was abolished and the Council was renamed the University Entrance and School Examinations Council.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

This deposit orginally consisted of minutes of the Matriculation and School Examinations Council (SE 1), papers relating to matriculation (SE 2), and correspondence and other papers regarding school examinations (SE 3). These records cover the period 1908-1951 and are fully catalogued in hard-copy form. There are also 5 boxes of uncatalogued material (Ref. SE) containing material dating from 1916-1991. This includes matriculation papers, general school examinations (on microfilm) and correspondence files. In addition there is a large collection of administrative records at the University depository, which have been box-listed (reference UoL/SE/ULEAC).

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

Open for research although access may be restricted by the Freedom of Information Act. Please see archivist for details. 24 hours notice required. Material at the University depository (reference UoL/SE/ULEAC) must be ordered at least 72 hours in advance.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Photocopying allowed subject to copyright and conservation considerations but it must be undertaken by Library staff.

Finding aids:

Catalogue: Archive of the University of London, 1988.

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Allied Materials

Related material:

National Register of Archives: Click here to view NRA record

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:

Rules or conventions:

Date(s) of descriptions:
1999-09-01 Simon McKeon, 2006-08-24 Michael Broadway