Education
With almost 500 primary and 150 secondary state schools across the region's nine boroughs, London Thames Gateway offers excellent educational provision for those living in the region.
There are also eight higher education institutions operating here, offering courses on everything from mechanical engineering to countryside management and modern dance.
The region's first class educational establishments include:
University of East London (UEL) www.uel.ac.uk
In 2006, UEL brought all of its academic schools together on two campuses, in Docklands and Stratford. UEL has over 20,000 enrolled students and offers over 500 undergraduate and postgraduate courses. It was rated among the top 10 universities for research by the Guardian in 2005 and number one among all UK universities for spend on facilities per student by The Times University Guide 2007.
University of Greenwich www.gre.ac.uk/
The University of Greenwich's roots can be traced back to 1890 and has three campuses: Avery Hill, in Eltham; Greenwich; and at Chatham Maritime, Kent. It has won two successive research-based Queen's Anniversary Prizes for higher and further education. These national awards recognise outstanding achievement which benefits the wider community.
London Metropolitan University (LMU) www.londonmet.ac.uk/
London Metropolitan University is the largest single university in London and one of the largest in the UK with over 35,000 students. LMU was created on 1 August 2002 by the merger of London Guildhall University (now London City campus) and the University of North London (now London North campus). According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, LMU is the most popular British university for European Union students and the third most popular university for international students generally.
Goldsmiths University www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/
The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths set up its Technical and Recreative Institute in 1891 to provide educational opportunities for the people of New Cross. The University of London acquired the Institute and re-established it as Goldsmiths College in 1904. Since 1989, Goldsmiths has been a full College of the University of London, with its own distinctive role as an independent university institution. Goldsmiths has over 8,000 students taking part in undergraduate, postgraduate and adult education study opportunities.
Queen Mary University of London www.qmul.ac.uk/
Queen Mary has its roots in four historic colleges: Queen Mary College, Westfield College, St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College and the London Hospital Medical College. The University has over 11,500 British, European and international students studying in four faculties. It is also part of the federal University of London.
Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication www.rave.ac.uk
Ravensbourne College is a higher education corporation, currently based in Chislehurst, Kent, it has recently announced its move to the Greenwich Peninsula. It has approximately 1,400 students and specialises in design, communication and broadcasting.
Trinity Laban www.trinitylaban.ac.uk
Higher education college Trinity Laban was formed by the merger of Trinity College of Music and Laban, the leading European school for contemporary dance. Trinity College of Music is located within the Wren designed King Charles Court at the Old Royal Naval College Greenwich. In the Guardian Higher Education/University League Tables 2008, Trinity Laban was ranked first in the UK in each of its specialist disciplines of music and dance.
Rose Bruford College www.bruford.ac.uk
Named after its founder, the Rose Bruford Drama School was set up in 1950 as a drama academy. Its home is Lamorbey Park in Sidcup, and the college combines the heritage listed Lamorbey House with the most up to date facilities in a new set of buildings completed in 2002.
