To think evening class GCSE/A Level provision for adults has massively declined since 1990?

😂😂here you go instead.

evidencebased.education/the-lingering-learning-styles-myth/

The WEA did a lot of these courses. They were a charity. My DM went to loads held in a local school in the evenings. I did photography at the college of FE. FE is outrageously underfunded. I’d quite like to do something I haven’t failed at before!

I literally said my learning style was not online or videos.. and you post a video. Was that on purpose? 😆

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rhgwIhB58PA&pp=0gcJCf8Ao7VqN5tD

@XenoBitch

Such a shame. Years ago a friend had a deaf child and the whole family learnt BSL. I wonder what families with deaf children would do now.

Have they?

That's why I did it, I just like languages and wanted to dip my toe in to something completely different. I would have enjoyed carrying on so I could perhaps eventually hold a meaningful conversation, but the college couldn't offer anything more unfortunately.

Learning styles have been debunked. But I agree face to face is better for most people.

Also @MyRabbit79

Years ago there used to be a wide range of evening classes you could sign up for for relatively modest fees. Cooking, crafts, foreign languages. I remember doing a Self Defence for Women course in the 1980s and I did Conversational French for a couple of years in the mid 1990s.

Back in about 1970 I remember my DM doing Winemaking, while my elder sister had a class at the same time learning to type.

I used to look forward to getting the syllabus round about this time of year to see what courses would be starting in September.

There is a BSL course provider where I live, but it is £hundreds, and leads to proper certificates. I would like to learn the basics for interest and not to get work etc.

Thanks for this I had a look at City Lit and found loads I'm interested in!

In the past I went to evening classes but actually online would be great for me now as I wouldn't need childcare.

I feel the same. I did a short BSL evening course at my local college last year (cost something like £40), but they weren't able to then offer the next step to learn more - I've got the alphabet, numbers, and I can tell someone my name and where I live!

I did an art GCSE at evening class in the 90s just because I fancied it and it cost next to nothing. And I thought it might be a good way to meet men 😄

I'd love to learn another language, but evening classes are non-existent. I'd have to go to the university, and they charge a lot for a short beginners' course.

Yep, I have wasted a lot of money on OU. I can't do it. And level 2 stuff that is gov funded. I need to be there in person.
So when someone tells me to do online courses etc. I know it is impossible for me.
We all have different learning styles, and distant is not mine!

meant to say, presumably, thats why there is less demand though, a lot access it through social media. Back in the 80s/90s college was probably the most accessible.

totally agree, I need some talking me through stuff, and showing physically if its practical stuff.

I agree, but some people (like me) need proper guidance. And there is the social aspect too. I made some good friends when I did an Access course.

This thread has got me looking at the other things my local college offers for adults though. A stained glass course here looks good, and people on benefits get it a bit cheaper.

I did A level Archaeology, loved it, really wanted to take that further but uni was never an option.

Some of the fun stuff can be done through apps and self teaching on YouTube. I miss those courses too. There were some weird and wonderful ones.

Local authorities are not responsible for FE any more. Haven’t been since 1992. Colleges of FE can decide if such courses are worth putting on or not. Their funding is separate from local authorities.

And it’s not a good use of taxpayers money to pay for you to do random A Levels as a hobby: someone has to pay the exam board, the invigilators, the markers, the teachers etc, and numbers wanting to do it had declined.

But it was never free. There were course fees, and exam fees, if it was an exam class. The fees were meant to cover the cost of the tutor and admin - that's partly why you gad to have at least 6(? I think) enrolled for the class to run. We had to buy the course book. It may well have been subsidised, but definitely not free.

The exams I did were at the local 6th form college, in a big hall with mostly 6th formers, so no extra invigilation costs. There would have been a bit extra admin for enrollment and exam entry.

Just to add, the Access courses in my local college are now just for health care like nursing and some AHP. There were other options years ago. I did Access to Science many moons ago, where some people went on to study chemistry and things like that.
It is like we are just forced down the one path now.

I did A level psychology at a evening class in 2002-3, It was fairly cheap as I remember and there was quite a range of choices back then , As others have said the only things available now are basic math/English type classes

I attempted to redo my maths GCSE as an adult years ago, and the class was mostly full of disinterested kids who were resitting, and acted up like they were still in school. Think kids being told to put their phone away then arguing with the teacher. I dropped out as it was getting daft with all the disruptions.

I think you can do a lot online now but the issue is finding an exam centre to sit your exams in.

Access courses are good but so expensive now. When I did mine, it was about £200 (back in 2013). They are now £3380!

I just looked at the prices for my local college. GCSEs are £430! Only Maths, English and Biology available for adults to do. There are loads more options if you are younger. Adults can't do A-levels at all.

I think the Tories and austerity finally killed it off.
It makes me quite sad to see our local college all dark with lights off in the evenings these days. They used to do.GCSE's and A-levels mid week, lots of people coming and going. Not any more.