A summer clear-out at Boltoph Lane unearthed the 1945 Year Book of the Town Planning Institute, revealing fascinating information about the educational and membership requirements of the period. 

To become members, town planners were required to pass the formidable final examination. This was held in London on the first Monday of July. Before being permitted to sit it, however, the candidate had to be accepted by the town planning joint examination board. The criteria included being over 21 years old, having worked in a town planning office for a year and having passed the intermediate examination or the equivalent final exam in architecture, engineering or surveying.

Exemption was only granted if the planner held a town planning diploma from an educational institution which had an approved curriculum and the approval of external examiners” — rather like today’s accredited planning schools. In 1945 there were eight, including the Universities of Liverpool and Manchester, Edinburgh College of Art and the School of Planning and Research for National Development in London. 

The exam fee was five guineas.Two months before the date, the planner had to submit a design for a “set piece of town planning” accompanied by a report. The exam was in fact several written papers covering planning practice — the syllabus included slum clearance and reserving sites for aerodromes — the history of planning, planning law and planning in relation to architecture and amenities, engineering and surveying. Candidates were also interviewed and had to produce a sketch plan and a report on a set subject “for which one day will be allowed”.

A prize of books to the value of £5 was awarded to the candidate with the highest overall marks. The George and Amy Pepler Prize was awarded to the candidate with the highest marks in the planning practice paper. Candidates who failed any paper could resit the following year for a fee of two guineas. 

In 1944, the final examination was held on 3 July. The year book reports: “A flying bomb episode began shortly before the examinations were due to be held, but fortunately they were carried through without undue disturbance.” Of the 168 candidates, 50 were successful. Incredibly, the year book also reports that seven candidates took the examination in prisoner of war camps in Germany. Four managed to pass.

Author:

Katherine Parkes

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

19-Aug-10

Sections:

Education & Careers

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