British Foundry School
Foundation date: 1933
Active: 1935 - 1939
Function: Foundry school
Policy: 'The School originated in proposals put forward to, and considered by, the Board of Education in 1933... Other industrial countries, notably France and Germany, have established schools in which the key men of the industry, metallurgists, engineers, managers, may be trained. The British Foundry School was envisaged as an organised way of providing these men, suited to the particular conditions of this country and British foundries overseas.' The school was of 'national character' and 'On geographical, educational and industrial grounds, it was decided that the School would most conveniently be located in Birmingham.' ['Prospectus' 1936]
The British Foundry School specifically provided education for 'comparatively mature' students already working in the industry. [First Annual Report (1936)] The first session of teaching at the school began on the 15 October 1935. The purpose of the school was for: 'the further training of men who wish to qualify for the positions of the highest responsibility in the foundry industry, or who have already achieved such positions and who wish to extend their metallurgical and technical knowledge to meet the very considerable advances that have been made during the past few years.' ['Prospectus' (1936)]
The Governing body was composed of representatives of subscribing institutions such as the British Cast Iron Research Association. The Chairmen and secretaries were elected. A description of the school's structure stated it was: 'governed by representatives of the industry, independent of, but in full co-operation with, other educational bodies.'
The full-time course of study was for one year; on completion of this students received a state-recognized diploma. Places were limited to 30 entrants a year. Fees for students taking the year-long diploma were £30. The course included instruction in 'moulding and casting studies' and on 'foundry projects'. Students visited local foundries during the year, and took annual visits to foundries in Scotland. The buildings that housed the school were formerly the Central Technical College.
Meeting schedule: multiple
Activities: art classes, lectures, meetings
Publications: annual reports
Composition: amateur artists, artisans, professional artists
Employees, Students & Members
Numbers: 13
Period Start: 1935
Period End: 1936
Numbers: 12
Period Start: 1938
Period End: 1939
Sources
British Foundry School. First Annual Report for the year ending 31st March 1936 British Foundry School
July 1936
pp. 1-15.
British Foundry School. Prospectus, 1936 British Foundry School
1936
Citing this record
'British Foundry School', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/organization.php?id=msib4_1208771992, accessed 04 Oct 2023]
