History

The ATCDE was founded in 1943 and combined the functions of two existing bodies (the Training Colleges Association and the Council of Principals) in representing the professional and bargaining interests of those training teachers in England and Wales. The TCA could trace its origins to 1891. The ATCDE membership was principally drawn from teacher training colleges and university education departments.

One of the ATCDE's main subsidiary roles was oversight and supply of information concerning the applications and admissions process, involving the Central Register and Clearing House

Central Register and Clearing House

The Central Register and Clearing House was an administrative organisation in teacher education in England and Wales which existed for almost sixty years. It pre-dated by some thirty years a similar organisation for university courses ....

 and the Graduate Teacher Training Registry

Graduate Teacher Training Registry

The Graduate Teacher Training Registry is the subsidiary of UCAS responsible for student applications from graduates to providers of Initial Teacher Training in the United Kingdom. Applications are filled out online via the GTTR website.The Registry was founded in 1960 and was run in close...

.

In comparison with other education unions the ATCDE was always small in size, having some 5000 members in 1967 and reaching its maximum size of 7000 in 1972/3.

Serious reductions in teacher training provision commenced during the early 1970s. It was forecast that between 1974 and 1981 the number of institutions would fall from 159 to 75, and the number of students from 117,000 to 43,770.

In 1976 the ATCDE merged with the Association of Teachers in Technical Institutions (ATTI) to form the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE). Following a further amalgamations, NATFHE in turn is now merged in the University and College Union

University and College Union

The University and College Union is a British trade union formed by the merger in 2006 of the Association of University Teachers and the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education ....

. A full and detailed critical history of the ATCDE can be found in Joan Browne's book.

Presidents of the ATCDE

1943 Dr Helen Woodhouse

1946 Mr A E Dean

1955 Dr G B Jeffrey

1957 Miss D Dymond

1960 Sir Charles Morris

1963 Dr F A Vick

1973 Sir Derman Christopher