After the Christmas break, I started to research the four colleges individually looking at their stories following the outbreak of war in 1939, this was to allow me to make an informed decision in choosing which colleges to focus on.

The evacuation processes of the four colleges were all very different.

With Southlands not evacuating till 1940 as they were considered safe in Wimbledon. Although they did immediately start discussing building air raid shelters and training their students in what to do with the war at large, while still in Wimbledon.

Click Here for More Information on the History of Southlands College

While the evacuation of Froebel college was a lot simpler with the college moving to Knebworth House in Hertfordshire with first-year students staying at Offley Place (close to Knebworth House.) While some of the smaller schools associated with Froebel College either shut down as parents refused to let their children leave London. While the Colet Garden Demonstration School moved to Hertfordshire followed by the two free Kindergartens from Notting Hill and St Pancreas moving to Tunbridge Wells, Kent and Eydon, Nottingham.

Click Here for More Information on the History of Froebel College

Whitelands had a varied experience following the outbreak of World War 2, with a delayed evacuation as their plans to evacuate fell through.  To begin with, the college was relocated to Cambridge and Halifax and then moved to Bede College, Durham. The College shared premises with Homerton College for part of the war but much of the war was spent with the colleges split over several sites with students saying that all college spirit was lost. With one student even saying that the college motto should have been ‘join Whitelands see England”

Click Here for More Information on the History of Whitelands College

Digby Stuart College experienced a varied evacuation with the college evacuating to the Hotel Marina in New Quay but finding the hotel bearly habitable they had to relocate. Three months later they moved to Stanford Hall Leicestershire and remained here for 6 years in the 17th Century mansion of Lord and Lady Braye.

Click Here for More Information on the History of Digby Stuart College

Overall the research into the evacuation experiences of the four colleges has helped me to determine that I want to look at the student experience in more detail. However, I am still unsure of the exact wording of a question as this will be heavily influenced by the college I choose.