Item RSP/7/k/26 - Photograph: Department of Domestic Science

Photograph showing a student, identified as Sylvia Shepherd, preparing needlework samples with a group of unidentified women students in the background.

Labelled on reverse 'Central Office of Information Photograph. Crown Copyright reserved (See Feature Set Into No.210 The Working Man's University: The First Polytechnic. The demand for evening education in Britain far exceeds facilities. After a full day's work a large proportion of the adult population hurry to evening institutes and polytechnics to learn, at a very low cost, the 'know-how' that modern industry and commerce insists of its workers. More than 11,000 people in the evenings, and 2,500 during the day attend courses for further education at the regent Street Polytechnic, where the twelve departments and three craft courses are designed almost exclusively for the vocational student who has reached the age of seventeen (there is no maximum age) and has passed Matriculation or an equivalent University entrance examination.'

Separately labelled 'D.47593 (19) Sylvia Shepherd took needlework as part of her School Leaving Certificate and began work as an apprentice at a big London shop. At the same time she attended the Polytechnic Department of Domestic Science and passed both the City and Guilds Ordinary Dressmaking examination and the Teacher's Certificate in Dressmaking. She is now studying for the City and Guilds Teacher's Certificate in Needlework and when she qualifies she will become a full-time teacher. Here she is preparing a lecture she will give her class as part of her training.'