File relating to the University's response to the James Report, 1972. The Committee of Inquiry on Teacher Education and Training had been appointed in 1970 under the chairmanship of Lord James of Rusholme, vice-chancellor of the University of York. Its brief was to investigate the role of universities, polytechnics, and training colleges in providing teacher training education.
The Committee reported in favour of a greater role and higher status for the teacher training colleges in providing teacher education, with the introduction of a two-year Diploma in Higher Education (DipHE), convertible into three-year degree courses of study (also provided by the colleges). A new system of national and regional councils would have overseen this system. Some universities expressed concern that the colleges of education would become effectively separate higher education bodies under this system, and the universities would lose their influence over teacher training (through the Area Training Organisations). Some universities were also sceptical about the colleges' ability to provide university-level education, and disliked the Committee's critical comments about the current academic curriculum for pre-service teacher training.
The file documents the University's response to the report, and includes several memoranda by Faculty of Education staff responding to the James Report. There are also minutes of a working party appointed to considerer the implication of the Report, which reported to Senate. There are numerous memoranda and circulars of the CVCP and Universities Council for the Education of Teachers, included for information purposes.
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