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

Yes, I have noticed this where I live too. I fancied doing A level maths but the only way I could do it was to get a private tutor and then I'd need to find somewhere I could sit the exam as a private candidate. Since I would only be doing it for fun I ditched the idea as it would be far too expensive, plus I actually wanted to be in a class with other people. It definitely used to be possible to do A levels at night school but now all our local college offers for adults is stuff like Spanish for holidaymakers, arts and crafts, and basic IT skills etc. Nothing wrong with those things of course but it's disappointing that there isn't a wider choice.

It’s probably one of the things that should be prioritised because it could prevent so many issues down the line for councils (better jobs = more capital = less ASC for them to fund because of adequate capital levels)

Majorly cut back since 2010, it's a real problem for people trying to re-enter the workforce.

@Blakeyzbus
Where is the money coming from. Most councils are suffering from the HUGE increase to welfare support. So many are facing bankruptcy
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/oct/22/councils-england-bankruptcy-bailouts-local-government-association-survey
Adult Education classes are one of the first thing to be cut.

I’ve found even the English quite hard to find beyond basic. I don’t like my gcse result in English and should have queried it/retaken at the time but was persuaded by head not to worry about it. I’ve looked in to it it and the courses are there but you have to find somewhere to sit the actual exam privately.

Funding, innit.
I was excited to see an ad for evening classes at a (vaguely) local college but it turned out to be one daytime language class and lots of evening cake decorating.
I’ve done some short language and art courses privately but I’d love a bit more choice. I’ve got a degree though, and people like me aren’t where the education budget needs spending.

My mum did evening classes in the 80s and got a-level equivalent qualifications for free, but yes even paid there’s nothing! You can sit them online but they’re extortionate

Yes in my area it declined since about 2000. There used to be the option to do random GCSEs and A levels at local colleges or adult education centres, now there are just general interest courses, or if you want to go to university, you have to do an Access course.

You can do any other ones via online learning -I did law gcse a few years ago. Plenty of those sort of providers -£250 or so plus exan fees (organise that yourself)

I think free is a big ask. I don't think either of the two cities I lived in back in the olden days offered them for free. But my city doesn't seem to offer them at all these days.

I’ve looked into taking some a levels for fun (mainly studying the courses without sitting the exams, because they wouldn’t benefit me now), because I didn’t get the chance to do them at a level at school and I regret it. I found it’s pretty impossible to do them for free where I live

I agree its a combination of no subsidies and lack of demand meaning courses would be too expensive to attract enough participants. Have you found any alternatives, such as online evening classes OP? I'm doing a course with City Lit which is very nice, although I miss the social side, with it being online.

I left school in 1990 and retook some GCSE,s in 1991,I don't think there's an option to do that now other than maths and English.

Its because a greater proportion of younger adults already have some GCSEs so there isn't the same demand. There's more opportunity available at school, so the people who don't go on to a-levels etc, usually its because they aren't academically inclined. Back in 1990 you still had a lot of women & people in poorer communities born in 50s and 60s who'd had far less educational opportunity at school and wanted to catch up later on, now those people have retired & aren't pursuing education in this form

Yes it has. I miss the night schools where you could learn just for no real reason. 🤷‍♀️

Government funding has been cut back and focus is more on basic subjects like Numeracy and Literacy and work based skills. You can still find them but fee paying and fewer concessions.