| StorageSite | UCL Institute of Education |
| AdminHistory | Len Cowee (b. 12 Aug 1914) first went to school in 1917 at Hotham Road, Putney, and then at an infants' school in Tranmere Road, SW18 in 1920, moving on to elementary school in 1921 and to Battersea Grammar School in 1925 where he remained until 1932. Cowee was unemployed for a while and then worked for the Imperial Tobacco Company until he joined the Territorial Army in 1939. He served in the Royal Engineers, the Royal Artillery and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during World War II. From 1945 to 1946 he again worked with the Imperial Tobacco Company and then took up a career in education. After a year at Eastbourne Training College, 1947-1948, Cowee taught successively in Gretton East Primary School, 1948-1954, Welbeck Junior School, where he was Deputy Head, 1954-1957 and Pyrford County Primary School where he was Head Teacher, 1957-1967. In 1967 he became a general Inspector in Surrey until 1971 when he was appointed Staff Inspector Primary and Special Education in Surrey. He held this post until his retirement in 1979. After that date he worked in Kenya (1980) and Hong King (1982). In 1984 he again became a General Inspector in Surrey, now on a part-time basis. Cowee was also an examiner for Goldsmith's College, London and for Bishop Grossteste College, Lincoln.
In 1956 Cowee had attended a one-year full-time course for junior school teachers, at the University of London Institute of Education, under the directorship of Christian Schiller. During his period on the course he made some mathematical teaching apparatus for Schiller to use. |
| CustodialHistory | Given to the National Primary Education Archive, Bishop Grossteste College, Lincoln by Len Cowee in 1988 and 1991-1992. National Primary Education Archive Accession Nos. 12; 13; 91/5; 92/3-4. |