TOP MARKS FOR ADULT LEARNING SERVICE » Communities » 24dash.com

Adult learners have been saying it for years and the charity  Campaign for Learning agrees, but now it’s official – Croydon’s adult learning provision is first and one of the best in the country.

The Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) assesses all services in England and Croydon Continuing Education and Training Service (CETS) won high praise from the inspectors this time around.

Using a four-grade scale (outstanding at one to inadequate at four), it is similar to an Ofsted report for schools.

In particular, inspectors highlighted family learning as deserving of an outstanding grade one.

The report said: “Family learning has an exceptional and innovative range of courses and projects in more than 14 accessible community locations. The teaching is imaginative and well prepared and tutors are enthusiastic. Learning activities are linked to the needs of parents and their children, who are supported well with access to specialist advice. Learners’ progression is outstanding with positive encouragement given to continue with their studies. Most learners progress to further courses, employment, community involvement, teaching assistant positions or to higher education. Bilingual language support is particularly effective.”

Grade two (good) was given in almost all other areas:
• leadership and management – grade two;
• information and communication technology – grade two;
• arts, media and publishing – grade two;
• languages, literature and culture – grade two;
• preparation for life and work – grade two;
• family learning – grade one;
• leisure, travel and tourism – grade three.

And talking to our adult learners, it seems they agree. The inspectors reported they had many complimentary things to say. What they particularly like was:
• helpful tutors who give them confidence;
• the convenient location of centres;
• learning with people from many cultures;
• excellent support;
• good displays of work produced;
• the feeling of youthfulness the es promote.

Councillor Maria Gatland, cabinet member for education, youth and lifelong learning, said: “I was delighted to read the ALI report and, in particular, the comments about family learning. This is an area of CETS which has been producing excellent results for many years. Croydon’s Family Learning Week, held annually in October, has won the award for best family learning event in a town centre for three years in a row now from the Campaign for Learning.

“A few weaknesses were also identified, such as target-setting not being used to full effect  in the leisure, travel and tourism provision and, in some literacy and numeracy es, there needs to be more individual tuition time. The CETS team has taken on board what areas could improve I am confident these will be given the further attention they need to do so.

“On the whole, the report was excellent and the managers and tutors deserve the recognition given for their dedication and hard work.

“Praise must also go to the learners themselves. One of my first appointments as the cabinet member for lifelong learning was to attend the CETS award evening in May. Here I heard many inspirational stories about hard work and determination paying off as learners gained confidence from their qualifications and the opportunities which opened up to them because of this.”

More than 17,000 people study with CETS each year and courses are run during the day and evening from 14 centres around the borough.

Enrolment for the start of term in September is taking place now. Copies of the guide for 2006/07, which lists more than 1,500 part-time courses, is available from libraries or can be downloaded from www.cets.co.uk.

There is a huge choice of subjects, both vocational and recreational, which range from improving your business skills to learning advanced computer techniques, and from trying your hand at furniture restoration to putting your three-times-a-week gym sessions to good use by studying to become an instructor.

In order that all residents have a chance to benefit from lifelong learning, all usual concessions for those on low incomes, benefits and senior citizens apply again this year.  In addition, people joining accredited courses can apply for help paying for fees, childcare and materials.

Councillor Gatland added: “Each year, more than 17,000 people study with CETS to improve their careers or to learn a new interest.  But more people can be accommodated in es and this year I would like to see the service used to its full capacity. With so many courses from which to choose, there is bound to be something to interest everyone. And lessons are held during the day and evening so studying can fit around the rest of your life.”

For more information please call the enrolment team on 0870 556 1630 (or the minicom line for people with hearing difficulties on 020 8662 5559).

END

Press release issued August 25th 2006