Morley College facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Morley College |
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| Address | |
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61 Westminster Bridge Road
, SE1 7HT
England
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| Information | |
| Type | Further Education |
| Local authority | Lambeth, Southwark, Kensington and Chelsea |
| Principal | Andrew Gower |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Enrolment | 17,000 (2020) |
| Website | http://www.morleycollege.ac.uk/ |
Morley College is a special college in London, England. It offers courses for adults and for further education. The college has three main locations. One is in Waterloo on the South Bank. The other two are in West London, in North Kensington and Chelsea. These two joined Morley College in 2020 after a merger with Kensington and Chelsea College.
Morley College is also a registered charity. This means it helps people and doesn't aim to make a profit. It was started in the 1880s. About 11,000 adult students attended in 2019. The college teaches many subjects. These include art, design, fashion, languages, drama, dance, music, health, and humanities.
College History
Early Days: Morley Memorial College
In the 1880s, a kind person named Emma Cons and her friends took over a theatre called the Royal Victoria Hall. They changed it into the Royal Victoria Coffee and Music Hall. Their goal was to offer fun, clean entertainment that was also cheap.
They had music, opera, and even science talks. These talks were very popular. Because of this, in 1889, the Morley Memorial College for Working Men and Women opened. It was named after Samuel Morley, who was a Member of Parliament and gave money to start the college.
At first, the college held classes backstage and in the theatre's dressing rooms. In the 1920s, the college and theatre became separate. The college attracted famous people like the writer Virginia Woolf.
The original college building was damaged during the Blitz in 1940. A new building was finished in 1958. Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, opened it. Famous artists like Edward Bawden and John Piper (artist) decorated it with murals.
Sloane School and Carlyle School
The Sloane School was a grammar school for boys in Chelsea. It was named after Sir Hans Sloane. The school was known for its plays, especially those by Shakespeare.
In 1970, Sloane School joined with the Carlyle School. The Carlyle School was a grammar school for girls. Its buildings were next to the Sloane School. After the merger, they became Pimlico Comprehensive School. The old Sloane and Carlyle buildings later became part of Kensington and Chelsea College in 1990.
Famous People from Sloane School
- John Creasey (1908–1973), a famous writer.
- Steve Hackett, a well-known musician.
- Alan Johnson, a politician who was a Member of Parliament.
- Malcolm Macdonald, a famous football player.
- Prof Carel Weight (1908–1997), a painter and art professor.
Famous People from Carlyle School
- Linda Bassett, an actress.
- Mary Harron, a Canadian film director and screenwriter.
Kensington and Chelsea College Merger
Kensington and Chelsea College (KCC) started in 1990. It was formed by combining parts of two older schools. KCC used the old Sloane and Carlyle School buildings.
Over the years, KCC grew a lot. It even started teaching in prisons for a while. In 2016, there was a plan to sell one of KCC's campuses, the Wornington Campus. Many people in the local area were against this. After the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, the building was used to help survivors.
In 2020, Kensington and Chelsea College officially joined with Morley College. This merger helped make sure that adult education would continue in the area. The KCC campuses became new Morley College campuses.
College Locations and Facilities
The main Morley College campus is in the Waterloo area of London. It's on the South Bank. The college buildings are on the border of two London boroughs.
From 2017 to 2019, the main building's entrance was updated. It now has a new lobby and a Morley Radio station. Morley College also opened a new center in Stockwell in 2017.
Besides the main campus, there's the Chelsea Centre. This is on Hortensia Road in Chelsea. There's also the North Kensington Centre. Both of these became part of Morley College after the merger.
Morley Gallery
The Morley Gallery opened in 1968. It is part of the Arts Centre at Morley College. The gallery is on the ground floor and has large windows facing the street.
The gallery usually has eight to twelve exhibitions each year. These shows feature paintings, prints, sculptures, photos, and other art forms. Many famous artists have shown their work here. These include Peter Blake and Maggi Hambling.
The gallery also shows art made by Morley students. This is an important part of their learning. The college has a permanent art collection too. It includes a painting by Bridget Riley in the lobby. There is no cost to visit the exhibitions.
College Departments
Music Department
Gustav Holst was the music director at Morley College from 1907 to 1924. The main music room is named after him.
Michael Tippett was also a music director here from 1940 to 1951. He conducted an orchestra of unemployed musicians at the college. They performed one of his early famous works.
Morley College has several music groups. These include the Morley Chamber Choir and the Morley College Choir.
Notable Music Staff
Drama Department
The Drama department started in the rehearsal rooms of the Old Vic Theatre. Today, most drama classes are in the main college building.
The college was a place for early experiments in improv acting. Keith Johnstone brought his acting group here to show his ideas.
The department offers many acting classes. These range from beginner classes to advanced courses. Students can even go on to write and direct their own plays. The department also worked with Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on a special course.
Notable Drama Staff
- Brian Croucher, an actor from TV shows like EastEnders.
- Keith Johnstone, known for improv theatre.
Notable Drama Alumni
- Johnny Harris, an actor.
Art and Design Department
Morley College has special studios for art and design. These include studios for ceramics, digital design, fashion, jewelry, sculpture, and printmaking.
See also
In Spanish: Morley College para niños
