Adult education courses

I remember the good old days of Floodlight when I first came to London in the 1970s. A great opportunity to further one's knowledge and meet people. Sadly those days of enlightened government have been destroyed by austerity.

I'm now retired and have time to continue increasing my knowledge

I would take a course if I could pay in interest free instalments  or if it lead to an interview and a job, this would encourage me to apply.

    However although many courses are offered if there are not enough people applying then the course is not given.

There should be a discount for residential pensioners or people on benefits. If on benefits then course must be job related rather than hobby .

I would like to to a course to help me find employment but I don't want to take the loan to pay for the course. It would be good if courses could be offered where there are particular labour shortages with the course leading to guaranteed employment.

I agree that gaining a qualification is often not necessary and is not the reason I would do a course. Also [in the case of a course I have recently completed] the need to provide detailed lesson plans etc is a disincentive to the tutor - the course is good and the tutor skilled but the amount of time the paper work takes compared to the fee she gains from running the course has put her off running courses next year.

One barrier is in actually finding out about courses - some are run by local councils but many others are run by other organisations and finding out about these can be a random mix of coming across leaflets, google searches which have inadvertently led to links to courses, word of mouth etc etc - a central register would be very useful. Other barriers can be location - even with local borough courses - years ago these were located in a number of school/ community buildings across the borough- but now they are usually located 1 one location within a borough which is not always easy for everyone within the borough to access.

Getting a qualification can definately help but in my field of the art and creative industry is not always necessary.

I have taken and will continue to take adult education course as long as I am able to. To look into a subject that is totally new to me, to review a favourite pastime in a different way with a different tutor and group of learners the same subject/topic becomes fresh and new. Any course I do keeps my brain ticking over, encourages my thinking, forces me out of my shell, encourages me to speak up, and has other benefits when I am able to make new friends or share what I have learnt with others or recommend a course!

The courses I have taken at the City Lit over the years have benefitted me greatly and given me great joy. I was able to progress to an arts degree and post degree went back to learn new skills which have helped me develop my art practice. Unfortunately the courses have become more an more expensive due to subsidy cuts. Adult education is incredibly important for older people to keep mentally active and to meet people but they are being priced out of it in many cases. 

Not convinced that those courses that don't offer a measurable qualification needs all the form filling and measuring mechanisms. It's a waste of time and money. And to be quite frank I think it puts people off. 

I have retired from the workplace but strongly believe in lifetime learning. I always attended courses of some sort, either to improve my skills in the workplace or to keep my mind active, to learn new skills, take up new hobbies and to be motivated. Sadly there are very few available now and the cost is prohibitive for many especially those on a pension., There used to be a large choice of options but exceedingly few now.  I recently started Silversmithing did one term and then the class shut down, such a shame! At another institution I also started warm glass, that class shut down and the institution also. Our library talks have stopped!, Cutbacks again and revamping of libraries. Very difficult now to keep one's mind active, There are a few groups on basic digital technology but they don't progress any further! I am forever being asked how to carry out certain tasks  by older people. Once retired we are now left to stagnate apart of course from the usual luncheon clubs and tai chi but sorry, I want more than that. We don't even have a sports hall in the 2 leisure centres in the part of Barnet I live in, almost 7 miles and an hours journey to the nearest sports hall in the other  leisure centres!

I'm recently retired. I have never been to an adult education class.

I would like to know more about what is available for me that is free or wouldn't cost too much. I have the time, I want to keep active (so a sport or keep fit option would be attractive), perhaps learn a new skill (e.g. pottery, spoken Spanish) or become better at something (e.g. spoken French, art appreciation). 

I also want to learn about my local area and find options where I can volunteer somewhere and make a difference (perhaps a charity, local school or hospital). 

The £300 miliion would be unarguably be better used on More Police in London   tjis would Help Reduce CRIME RAPES DEATHS IN LONDON

I've really enjoyed taking courses in songwriting and creative music, for example at Morley College and the City Lit.

They prevented me getting really depressed after I lost my job.

Now I have my own YouTube channel and put my own songs on it!

From 2004 to 2011 I gained a bachelor and postgraduate degrees. I miss the commitment.

Studying is amazing! Even at an older age . I used different skills than when I  was young like being persistent and constantly on the books rather than use my ( gone now) good memory and I'd be happy to start to study again 

Changes to the pensionable age means I now need to work for much longer than anticipated.  My experience is that age is most definitely a barrier to continued working in a useful or fulfilling role - despite the government commentary.  Re-training and continued learning seem a logical step in my head to remaining employable - but the real experience has been something completely different.  Learning is a life-long love for me - so even if it does absolutely nothing to assist in the workplace it keeps my mind active and provides a feeling of achievement.   Access to low cost learning or re-training for adults of any age seems a no brainer to me if we are to utilise our available workforce appropriately - particularly with the continued 'brexit' saga.  Learning is a human thing - not a youthful thing.

I am approaching retirement age and my destiny  is severe poverty in my old age. Since immigrating to the UK 37years ago, i am severely restricted because of my disabilities and other challenges and therefore have been unable to hold down a job.. I do need any training that will help me to be more competitive in the job market, otherwise i will die in abject poverty.My faith is in the hands of human being and that of the almighty God.

Have you ever taken or considered taking an adult education course?

I have taken several adult education short courses in computing and Spanish for beginners. Because I am a firm believer in lifelong learning.

 What do you think are the main benefits of taking an adult education course?

The main benefits of taking adult education courses is to keep my mind active and to meet people in these settings.

I have already been on a course,I  benefited from these courses  you in progressing my understanding of these subjects and going on to do futher work. 

I would like to learn Italian but there are no local courses and the specialized colleges charge a prohibitive amount.  Exams should be voluntary as I don't necessarily need more qualifications, just the enjoyment of learning something new

Given my level of educational privilege (I have a degree and professional qualifications) I'd mainly rather the AEB was spent on people with less access to self-teaching or private tuition.

I would agree with the comments that engaging with learning and finding personal satisfaction and progress are important and valid aims with or without qualifications. Adults should be allowed to learn things without always having to subject themselves to exams unless they want to.

As a sports club chair, what I would love to see is funded courses that support volunteers, such as first aid courses/refreshers, charity/club governance skills (basic accounting, safeguarding etc) -- this would save our budgets for actual activities and open up possibilities.