ABSTRACT
It was in the last quarter of the nineteenth century that the system of further education as we know it today became established. Its creation owed much to the burst of state involvement and collectivism that, in contrast to some popular opinion, characterized the late Victorian period. A number of factors helped promote technical education. The 1867 Great Exhibition confirmed the urgent need for reform of technical and scientific education if Britain was to remain competitive. Various Royal Commissions and inquiries were set up. The City Parochial Charities Act in London helped release substantial funds which supported the development of technical education. But the taking-off point was major constitutional legislation in 1888 which paved the way for the establishment of local authority technical colleges.
