1750 - 1899
| Important Dates in regard to the development of examinations. | The detail. |
| 1754 | Society of Arts Society (SoA) founded offering medals, prizes and money for useful inventions and outstanding, worthwhile achievements. |
| 1833 | Government makes grants available to church schools |
| 1835 | Edinburgh School of Arts -Awarded ‘Attestations of Proficiency certificates. – this was adopted later by other bodies e.g. the Union of Institutions/Institutes. 'Report from the Select Committee on Arts and Manufactures. Parliamentary Papers. |
| 1836 | University of London incorporated as an examining body. |
| 1839 | Union of Lancashire and Cheshire Institutes (ULCI) formed – established examinations in 1847.Union covered Caernarvonshire, Cheshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Isle of Man and Lancashire. Education Department (ED) established. |
| 1841/2 | Pharmaceutical Society of GB examinations sarted. |
| 1844 | Formation of the Ragged School Union. |
| 1845 | Royal College of Chemistry. Students leaving the College were awarded Certificates of Attendance or Testimonials. |
| 1846 | College of Preceptors founded and incorporated in 1849. |
| 1847 | ‘Examination the Province of the State, or the outlines of a Practical System for the extension of National Education.’ By James Booth. Parker. Lancashire and Cheshire Union of Mechanics' Institutions founded. Midlands Union of Mechanics' Institutions founded. Kent Union of Mechanics' Institutions founded.College of Preceptors starts examinations - grades: Licentiate, Associate and Fellows for teachers. |
| 1848 | Northern Union of Mechanics’ Institutions (NUMI) founded. |
| 1850 |
Board of Trade examinations for Masters and Mates of Merchantman. College of Preceptors started trialing examining pupils and these examinations were firmly established by 1854. Devon and Cornwall Union of Mechanics' Institutions founded. Oxford University Examination Statute. Oxford Honours Schools in Mathematics and Natural Sciences established |
| 1851 | Cambridge Triposes in Moral and Natural Sciences established. Great Exhibition highlighted weaknesses in technical education. |
| 1852 | Department of Science and Art established created under the Board of Trade. Society of Arts created a Union of Mechanics' Institutions- see above the separate unions that existed prior to the SoA action.. |
| 1853 | Department of Science and Art established. Society of Arts proposed system of examinations in the Union of Institutions. Indian Civil Service Examinations instigated. Leicestshire Union of Mechanics' Institutions founded. |
| 1854 | College of Preceptors introduced full-scale examinations after trials in1850. Organisation of the Permanent Civil Service. C. 1713. Indian Civil Service examinations opened to competition.The Northcote and Trevelyan Report. SoA examinations inaugurated. |
| 1855 | First SoA examinations staged only one candidate. The first shorthand certificates issued by the Phonetic Institute in Bath (Pitman). |
| 1856 | Society of Arts - examinations remodelled to include such subjects as maths, science, modern languages. On this occasion 42 candidates presented themselves. (Extended examinations to provincial centres in 1857). |
| 1857 | Department of Science and Art - established examinations in science in 1859. University of Oxford Delegacy of Local Examinations established. |
| 1858 | London University Examinations -science degrees with examinations open to all. University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate established - first examinations held in Birmingham, Brighton,Bristol, Cambridge, Grantham, Liverpool, London and Norwich. Junior exams for<16 year olds and Senior exams for<18 year olds |
| 1859 | The Science and Art Department (DSA) established. The SoA transfers science examinations over to the Science and Art Department. First examinations held in London, Edinburgh, Dublin and Manchester, DSA examinations for teachers of science established in London, Edinburgh, Dublin and Manchester. |
| 1860 | Report of the Commissioners on Military Education. Cd.2603. Army Certificates of Education introduced. |
| 1862 | Revised Code (Lowe) instituted 'payment by results'. |
| 1864 | Society of Arts introduces shorthand examinations. Report from the Select Committee on Schools of Art. Women first admitted to Cambridge University. |
| 1865 | Cambridge Locals extended to women. Local Examations introduced in Scotland -University and St Andrews offered these. Glasgow started examinations in 1877 and Aberdeen in 1880 however very few candidates |
| 1867 | Special examinations for science teacher certificate abolished. |
| 1868 | Whitworth Scholarships/Exhibitions. These were awarded after examinations including written papers in chemistry, mathematics, mechanics and physics. In addition there were practical tests fitting, filing, turning and pattern-making. Whitworth directed that eight should be awarded to Owens’ (Manchester) and three each to Cambridge, Oxford and London universities, one to Dublin, Durham, Edinburgh and Glasgow and others to University College London and Kings College London. |
| 1870 | Women admitted to Oxford Local Examinations. UCL opens classes for women. |
| 1872 | SoA introduces shorthand examinations. |
| 1873 | Society of Arts – established technological subject examinations that were subsequently transferred to The City and Guilds of London Institute in 1879. In 1879 there were 151 succesful candidates and by 1908 the number had risen to 13,058. Oxford and Cambridge Schools Examinations Board established. SoA offers examinations in Carriage Building. SoA offers examinations in Cotton and Silk Manufacture |
| 1874 | Girton College examinations for women in the natural Tripos |
| 1875 | DSA started examinations in agriculture. |
| 1876 | Shorthand examinations introduced by SoA. SoA Commercial Certicate awarded for passes in three subjects. |
| 1878 | City and Guilds of London Institute (CGLI) – founded by sixteen Livery Companies and the Corporation of London and incorporated in 1880. Maria Grey Training College for women founded. London University examinations available to women for the first time. SoA ceased to hold examinations in manufacture in cotton, paper, steel, carriage building, calico-bleaching, dyeing and printing, alkali manufacture and blow pipe ananlysis - CGLI took over technology examinations. |
| 1879 | The SA transfers the technological examinations over to CGLI and retains the Commercial examinations. City and Guilds held first examinations. First classes at the Finsbury Technical Colege.Finsbury Technical College and CGLI Art School established. Royal Institute of Chemistry start examinations. Exams held by CGLI in 1879 included: Cotton manufacture, Steel manufacture, Gas manufacture, Silk Manufacture and dyeing, Paper manufacture, Glass manufacture, Telegraphy, Photography, Pottery and percelain and Alkali manufacture. |
| 1880 | City and Guilds incorporated. Philip Magnus appointed as first Director and Secretary of CGLI. CGLI offers examinations in Tinplate and Zinc Work in conjunction with plumbing -subjects later separated for exam purposes. |
| 1881 | London Chamber of Commerce founded. CGLI offers examinations in Woodworking, Metalworking and Mechanical Engineering. First examinatiions in Framework Knitting (Hand and Machine) held at Technical School Leicester. |
| 1882 |
Union of Institutions dissolved (See history on this website).CGLI offers examinations in Carpentry and Joinery. CGLI offers examinations in plumbing |
| 1884 |
Samuelson Report: Royal Commission on Technical Education.
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| 1886 | Institution of Municipal Engineers start examinations. CGLi offers examinations in Bricklaying and Masonry - later offered separately. |
| 1887 | CGLI hold first international examinations. The London Chamber of Commerce start examinations. First CGLI examinations held overseas in New South Wales Australia. |
| 1888 | Oxford Local Examinations Board introduces shorthand examinations. |
| 1889 | The Welsh Intermediate Education Act. |
| 1890 | London Chamber of Commerce (LCC) began examinations. |
| 1891 | Typing examinations introduced by SoA. Regent Street Polytechnic founded courses and examinations offered included; bricklaying, electrical work, plumbing, printing and watch making. Education provided free.CGLI offered Examinations in Bookbinding. |
| 1892 | First CGLI examinations staged at Woolwich Polytechnic. ordinary Science Examinations grant for most redimentary science results abolished. |
| 1893 | Technical Education: Its Progress and Prospects. P Magnus. J oSA. School leaving age raised to 11. |
| 1894 | Bryce Report. Reported in 1885 and stressed the pivotal role of examinations. GLI offers examinations in Cabinet Making. |
| 1895 | Union of Educational Institution that had started examinations 1896. Covered the Midland region comprising Cornwell, Devon, Hampshire, Huntingdon and Staffordshire. Unviversity of Durham establishes a Certificate for Secondary Teachers. |
| 1896 | The Central Welsh Board (CWB) founded and this became the Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC) in 1948. UEI started examinations. CGLI offers examinatins in Platerers' Work. CGLI offers examinations in Painters' and Decorators'. University of Oxford instigates a course on education and awarded a Diploma in Education. |
| 1897 | Institution of Civil Engineers Examinations started. CGLI offers examinations in Bookbinding. |
| 1899 | Board of Education (BoE) created. School leaving age raised to 12. Cockerton Judgement - limited powers of School Boards. |