South West London College

A number of institutions amalgamated to create South West London College in 1966. A Branch Institute of Battersea Polytechnic was opened in 1901 at Tooting to serve the Balham and Tooting area. Balham Commercial Institute moved to Tooting Broadway in 1935 and offered evening courses. The Clapham Junction Commercial Evening Institute amalgamated with Balham Commercial Institute and became the Balham and Tooting College of Commerce in 1957. The College comprised two departments, professional studies and social and general studies. In 1961 London County Council included the College among its seven commercial colleges designated for advanced work, and in 1966 it was renamed South West London College. The College specialised in degrees and diplomas in accountancy, business and management studies, with the first full time course offered in 1967. By 1991 a range of sub-degree level work was offered along with management courses. The College was designated a Higher Education Centre under the Education Reform Act 1988 and in 1990 planned to merge with Thames Polytechnic in order to attract greater numbers of students. Thames planned to move the College to Manresa House in Roehampton from its Tooting Broadway site. South Bank Polytechnic also proposed a merger, but the College was dissolved by the Secretary of State for Education in 1991. Students were dispersed to a number of colleges: South Bank Polytechnic, Thames Polytechnic, City of London Polytechnic, Kingston Polytechnic, Polytechnic of Central London and the Polytechnic of North London. Staff were amalgamated with South Bank Polytechnic and Thames Polytechnic.