Bedford College of Higher Education

In 1976 Bedford College of Physical Education merged with Bedford Training College (formerly Froebel College founded in 1882 and located at Polhill) and Mander College of Further Education (formerly the Bedford Technical College established in 1919) to become the Bedford College of Higher Education.
The merger was brought about by Circular 7/73 issued by the Department of Education and Science which called on local education authorities to submit plans to reorganise the colleges, estimating that by 1981 65,0000 places would suffice for teacher training (there were 114,000 places in 1973). By the end of the 1970s this projection had been cut to 35,000. Following the merger, the Principals of the three merged colleges became Deputy Directors under a chief who was appointed from outside.