Timeline of Education

This timeline is a rough draft of the timeline that we will use in class for our discussion group.

Timeline

Chronological table

Displaying 1 - 10 of 10
Date Event Created by Associated Places
1848

The opening of the 1st College for Women

The first Women's College, Queen’s College in Harley Street, London, was founded in 1848. The college was founded by men who felt it unjust for women to be opressed by their lack of education.

Cooper Gollier
1849

Opening of the 2nd College for Women

In 1849, The Ladies' College in Bedford Square began to educate women. What made this college special is that it not only was for women, but it was founded and operated purely by women as well. In 1900, this college became part of the University of London.

Cooper Gollier
1866

Social Classes Divided Education

In 1866, Dorothea Beale, principal of the Cheltenham Ladies College, said that her school "admitted only the daughters of independent gentlemen or professional men." Education was very much still viewed as a luxury of the upperclass.

Cooper Gollier
1869

Founding of Girton College

Girton College was founded by three women in 1869. It was the first residential Women's College as well as the first Women's College in Great Britain to eventually become a mixed-gender school.

Cooper Gollier
1869

The Edinburgh Seven enrolled at the University of Edinburgh

Sophia Jex-Blake, leader of the Edinburgh Seven

The Edinburgh Seven were the first seven girls that were allowed to enroll at a British university. While the university did not let them graduate in the end, their case did generate a lot of national attention, including that of Charles Darwin.

Cooper Gollier
1871

The Creation of National Union for the Improvement of Education of Women of All Classes

The National Union for the Improvement of Education of Women of All Classes, later known as the Women's Education Union, was founded in 1871 by two sisters in responce to the social class division in education. The founding sisters were also active in the sufferage movement and wanted to push women to become teachers.

Cooper Gollier
1874

Founding of the London School of Medicine for Women

In 1874, the London School of Medicine for Women was founded by none other than Sophia Jex-Blake and other members of the Edinburgh Seven. They used the frustration of not being awarded their degrees from the University of Edinburgh as fuel for change.

Cooper Gollier
1880

The First Women in the UK are Awarded Degrees

Finally in 1880, the first four women in the history of the UK are awarded degrees from the University of London.

Cooper Gollier
1897

The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies was founded

The foundation of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies was formed in 1897. Interestingly, the Queen herself denounced this association by stating her opinion that women have no place in voting.

Cooper Gollier
1947

Cambridge University Allows Women to Receive Full Degrees

In 1947, Cambridge University finally allows women to recieve full degrees for the first time. They are the last university in the UK to allow this.

Cooper Gollier