adult education | FE Week

Top Ofsted marks for south Yorkshire council’s adult education

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council upgraded for inspiring out of work people towards employment

A day in the life of an ESOL teacher

The role is about so much more than teaching the language

William Pickford, principal, Redbridge Institute of Adult Education

William Pickford has had an “eclectic” 25-year career in FE which has seen him opening a college on a faraway tropical island, overseeing another as it was evicted due to local authority financial mismanagement, and now, leading London’s only ‘outstanding’ council-run adult education service. Since 2021, he has been the principal of Redbridge Institute of […]

Family learning: Where next for the ‘hidden jewel’ of adult education?

Family learning programmes have had to fight for survival in a competitive funding environment that demands quantifiable outcomes for learners. But the provision, which involves adults and children learning together, now seems to be enjoying a bit of a revival, with over 20 per cent more people taking up family learning courses in 2022-23 than […]

Adult education participation hits record high

But inequalities remain across social and geographical groups

The dismantling of a sector: Adult education in crisis

Only two years ago, the adult education sector was called ‘the crown’ and community learning its ‘jewel’ by the education select committee. So why is a narrow offer (unless you can pay) possibly set to become even narrower? Jess Staufenberg finds out The “existential decline” of the adult education sector because of drops in funding, […]

Adult literacy must be top of the new PM’s despatch box

Changes in government policy and funding in the last decade have reversed previous positive trends, writes Robert Glick We should acknowledge the chronic low levels of adult literacy, which ranks the UK below average in the OECD – especially since Friday was international literacy day. Resolving this challenge offers the new prime minister a way […]

Education inequalities study reports ‘dearth’ of second chances for learners

The Institute for Fiscal Studies report says significant investment is needed to address education inequalities

DfE’s latest consultation puts adult community education at risk

The suggested new outcomes are limited and do not relate to the wider benefits of adult learning, writes Sue Pember Hidden in the recent technical consultation document on FE funding and accountability there are a few proposals which, if implemented, could fundamentally change the adult education offer for many millions of learners who have poor […]