Board of Education, Reports from those Universities and University College in Great Britain
which participate in the Parliamentary Grant (London, 1907)
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015076593857&seq=5

Board of Education, Reports from those Universities and University College in Great Britain
which participate in the Parliamentary Grant (London, 1907)
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015076593857&seq=5

At 5 years old, the University College, Reading had cemented itself into Reading Town’s structure as part of the Outreach Programme of Oxford, where students from all backgrounds were able to come and support their learning to the fullest with resources from their parent institution, but especially a grant from the government; the grant supported many different universities and university colleges where each institution had to spell out to the government where the money was going to best grow each place.

These extracts from a report to the British government demonstrated how the resources best supported all students, whether during the day or in the evening. There was an even split between the day and evening courses for both genders, as many people were engrossed in work during the normal 9-5 hours per day. This meant that working-class students were able to finish their workday and continue their courses after it had finished, so vital learning for their chosen subject was not missed.

Furthermore, in the second source, they ‘have been selected to meet as far as possible the express needs and wishes of students’, meaning that the evening classes were tailored to the students who need support in the areas of languages, literature, science, drawing, music, crafts and commercial and technical subjects. All these subjects were offered for students who needed degrees in certain aspects of the workplace and saw their studies as a parallel to the industries they were in; the working class were able to study effectively alongside jobs to push their careers into higher rankings.

Interior of St Andrew's Hall, University College Reading via M.E.R.L. (c1880-1930)
Dann-Lewis Photographic Collection. P DX322 PH1/DL/779.
University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 6AH.

Student accommodation in University College, Reading, was well suited to the early 20th-century student, drawing many parallels with how students live at the University in the 21st century. Living at their own place of education meant that students on full-time courses could throw themselves into their studies, with dedicated spaces for research, which shows how much they have in common with today’s body of students.

For the working class, there were benefits to the cost of living there: per week, students used to pay between £1 and 1 shilling to £1 and 10 shillings and in 2026 terms, it meant they paid between c.£45-£105. Compared to Reading in 2026, this is significantly less to pay; however, government support has increased over the years through student grants and loans, so students from all backgrounds were able to receive university-level education from their own spaces in university accommodations. This built more interest in students and paved the way for more inclusive thinking surrounding the cost of living for the working class at University College, Reading.

The students chaired the Principal, Dr William M Childs, in celebration, Reading (30 May 1925),
via University of Reading, ‘Our Alumni Centenary Census’,
University of Reading Website [website],
https://census.reading.ac.uk/
(11 January 2026).

Dr William M. Childs was an influential figure as the principal of the University College, Reading, but also a driving factor towards the University of Reading’s creation in 1926.

This image, taken on the 30th May 1925, 10 months before the change happened, saw students ‘chair’ the principal on their shoulders as a celebration for the Royal Charter’s terms being agreed in many talks that started since the turn of the century.

The act of ‘chairing’ Childs meant that student support sought popularity from the change from university college to university, bringing many more opportunities for students to achieve their academic goals in their lives. Working-class students benefitted significantly from this as paths were set in place for the future of students attending to the university to how we know of them today.

Reformed Charter of Incorporation of the University of Reading (August 2015),
via University of Reading
https://www.reading.ac.uk/about/governance/royal-charter

The Royal Charter was originally signed and sealed in 1926, with key parties from the University of Reading, the Privy Council, and others present at the signing. In 2015, this charter was reformed to bring it up to date with the University's own Strategy for 2020-2026. The benefit for the working class was that the revised points significantly supported the working class.

Certain parts, such as the Equality section, were especially important, as the reasoning around inequality was updated to modern standards. The Students’ Union is also important, as it’s a place for students to go for help, queries and support, both within and outside the university, and has been a significant place for decades.