Our History

The Abbey DLD Colleges Group is a group of independent sixth form colleges based in the London, Manchester and Cambridge.

Davies, Laing and Dick (or DLD as it’s now known) was founded in 1931 to provide tutoring for Oxbridge and Colonial Service entrance exams.

Mr Peter Boorman (MA) was appointed Principal of DLD College in 1986. Prior to joining DLD, Mr Boorman had set up Abbey Tutors in London in 1985, and during his time with the company a group of Abbey Tutorial Colleges was established during the 1990s: Abbey College Manchester was founded in 1990, and Abbey College Cambridge in 1994.

Since its foundation Abbey College Manchester has become one of the leading providers of independent education in Greater Manchester. They have developed and maintained an outstanding record of academic success, and have a strong reputation locally, nationally and globally for high quality teaching, very small class sizes and a strong tutor and welfare system.

Since its foundation in 1994 Abbey College Cambridge has become one of the best sixth form colleges for international students in the UK. At Abbey College Cambridge, we have developed and maintained an outstanding record of academic success. Our students’ exceptional A-Level pass rates mean that we have been consistently placed at the top of college league tables since 1997.

After eleven years in Marylebone, DLD moved again in 2015 to 199 Westminster Bridge Road. Successes at DLD have included placing over 600 students at Russell Group universities, over 50 students at Oxbridge, with many more going to prominent Art, Music, Drama Colleges and prestigious international universities.