From the Sunderland Teacher Training College to the Department of Education

The University of Sunderland has been identified as one of the top providers of both Primary and Secondary Teacher Education – and has notched up more than 100 years in teacher training.

From the modest foundations of Sunderland Teacher Training College – where 70 students first enrolled in 1908 at a cost of £10 to be taught by a team of staff which included a Swedish drill master – the University has gone on to achieve a global reputation of excellence in the field of education.

In 1908 the Teacher Training College began in Westfield House, opposite the Technical College, in Green Terrace with the premises possibly sold to the Technical College by a member of the Richardson family.

In 1922 the Training College moved into the Langham Tower building on the Ryhope Road. At the same time the College became 'women only' and remained that way until 1959. Under its last principal, Mr H Armstrong James, the Teacher Training College reached its zenith with 820 students and 80 staff.

For more than 80 years Langham Tower was in the hands of the University until Sunderland High School purchased the building as well as Armstrong James Building in 2004.

Langham was built for William Adamson, the son of a prominent shipbuilder and shipowner, as a private house in 1891. After his death the building changed hands several times and was rented by the Vaux family at one point, before becoming home to Sunderland Teacher Training College in 1922 with 146 students.

Over the next fifty years, a number of other buildings were added to the college. Most were former private houses, but in 1962 a new library block (Armstrong James Building) was built in the garden of Langham itself.

The design of Langham was reportedly based on Cragside, Norman Shaw’s famous house in Rothbury, Northumberland, built for Lord Armstrong. There are certainly many internal and external similarities.

The Tall Tudor chimneys, the half-timbered, gabled turret set behind ornamental battlements all seem to be repeated from Cragside.

In 1963 Mr Quintin Hogg (Lord Hailsham) suggested the Training Colleges should be called Colleges of Education and the Sunderland College of Education began.

Sunderland Technical College opened a new Education Department in 1967 which wasn’t linked to the College of Education at Langham Tower. The Head of the Department was Mr H Miller who interviewed all students prior to admission.  The Technical College had refurbished four old Victorian houses in Thornhill Park. All lectures, apart from the large main Education lecture on Wednesday mornings in the Edinburgh building, were held in Thornhill Park.

The Education Department moved from Thornhill Park to the Forster Building in 1971.

Lee Puchala was part of the year group for the first intake in 1967. He said: “The most unusual aspect of my career in Sunderland Polytechnic was my Education Lecturer for the Cert Ed, Mr E Haswell, who was also my lecturer for the BEd and subsequent MEd. I first met him on my first teaching practice in Thornhill School where he taught Geography. 

“Interestingly, a few Thornhill School teachers transferred to the Education department during my time - eg Mr L Willis (my Biology Lecturer).”

He added: “A number of students from the Education Department contributed a great deal to the sporting life of the Polytechnic.  A special achievement was reaching the final of the Polytechnic Rugby Cup in 1969/70 - losing to Glamorgan in Wolverhampton.”

In 1973, as a Polytechnic, Sunderland created the first part-time, in-service BEd (Bachelor of Education) programme in the country.

In 1975 the College of Education was merged with Sunderland Polytechnic and for three years Langham remained the centre of the Faculty of Education, until further changes in 1979 saw it adapted for use as an administrative centre.

“The course itself was purely based on educational theory, i.e. no 'subject' study. We studied topics in philosophy, sociology, and psychology together with curriculum theory, development and organisation. The programme lasted three years and consisted of two evenings a week and three long weekends each year.

“This course was excellent. It was one of the very few times when, as a student, I really looked forward to going to lectures and seminars. In retrospect I think it was this course that first kindled the idea within me that I might consider a career in teacher education rather than teaching in schools.”

Professor Shield returned to the Polytechnic a few years later as a teacher on the team that developed the Master of Education programme.

He said: “This again was of a new format. It was essentially research based with a large element of curriculum development and educational management. This concept of basing curriculum change on research based theories was quite revolutionary but was also useful in that it informed what you were doing in school and why.

“This research based teacher development became a strong movement nationally and the University of Sunderland played a central role in its development. The programme culminated in an extensive piece of research which combined all of our previous work.”

Asked about his memories at Langham Tower Professor Shield commented: “The building itself intrigued me with its grandeur, which was frequently hidden, and its myriad of hidden staircases and rooms such as the Board Room.”

He added: “Tales from staff who had taught there in the old days were fascinating. For example, when visitors arrived at the building they were greeted by a house maid complete with white apron over little black dress and staff members were served afternoon tea in their common room, all were expected to attend. These days had been long gone however when I arrived.”

Memories forged at Langham Tower still remain strong for many alumni.

Tim and Jean Blewitt met while studying at the College of Education from 1968 to 1971. Jean shared her vivid memories with us: “I started College in September 1968. Feeling a little nervous I left my 'digs' in Ashmore Street and took the short walk to Langham Tower for my first day of Teacher Training in Sunderland. I thought the building looked impressive and was looking forward to my three years of training in the PE department.

Pictured above: Tim and Jean Blewitt 1968 and 2015.

“Walking through the entrance with lots of other 'freshers' I noticed the wonderful sweeping staircase with lots of guys leaning over the top rail. They were all chatting and obviously discussing the new girls as they walked in. When I got to the top of the stairs one bearded young guy introduced himself as Tim Blewitt and told me that he played for the college rugby team.

“We chatted for a while and he asked me if I would like to go to watch the team play the following Sunday. As I quite fancied him I thought that I definitely would. I stood on the touchline with another girl and asked her who she had come to watch, "Oh, Tim Blewitt" she said, "He's my boyfriend!"

“Anyway after that the rest is history as we were married 2 years later and we have just celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary.”

Patricia Milward (Cert Ed Primary Education 1969) recalled: “There were enjoyable college dances with great buffets provided by the Langham chefs!”

“My time as a student at Langham was full of memories both worrying and good,” Sheila Coates (Cert Education 1952) added. “One memorable morning in 1952 the whole college (100 students in all) was summoned to assemble in the College Hall – the room opposite the top of the stairs. The Principal Miss Williamson then made the announcement that King George IV had died and Princess Elizabeth was on her way back from Kenya to begin her reign as Queen Elizabeth. We were all suitable affected and shocked by the sad news. After 2 minutes silence we said the Lord’s Prayer and made our way back to Lectures.”

Sheila continued: “In lighter vein! The Social Committee at last got permission from Miss Williamson to hold a College Dance in Bede Hall which had just been newly opened. The evening was a great success and we were all delighted, thinking of pleasant times ahead. Next morning the committee had to meet with the Principal to be told that there would be no more dances because beer bottles had been found in the men’s cloakroom. I don’t know how long it was before this rule was revoked!

“The Christmas Carol Service was also very memorable. The entrance hall was always beautiful decorated by Miss Gregory and her Art students. The choir, in their black and red cloaks lined the beautiful staircase, holding lighted lanterns and singing like angels! A really moving occasion in which the whole college took part and really looked upon it as the start to the Christmas festivities.”

Others still hold great memories about the City of Sunderland back in the day. David G Spence (Cert Ed Education 1976) said: “Vaux Brewery was the centre of the town. Red, black and cream painted pubs were at every corner where you would have a great pint of Samson bitter.”

Coordinator of the Sunderland Old Student Teachers' Association, Colin Orr (Cert Ed Teaching Training 1967) added: “Tutors sat in on classes while students were on teaching practice but if the Principal came to have a look you were at one of the extremes: a born teacher or a no-hoper.”

We are glad to confirm that many born teachers came out from Langham Tower and are still coming out from the current Department of Education.