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

[Blakeyzbus]

The Autumn of 1990 was the first year I was looking to do a part time GCSE course as I’d left school. I lived in a city and there were these huge paper supplements with the local newspaper that had loads of A level and GCSE courses you could choose from at different venues within the city. Fast forward to 2025 and I find that GCSE / A Level night school provision is thin on the ground in the same city.

I suppose I’m thinking this because it’s approaching end of August/ beginning of September.
Any thoughts?

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.

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

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 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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Have they?

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.

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

@XenoBitch

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

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!

😂😂here you go instead.

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

So do I. I used to do French and German evening classes.

This. I want to do a healthcare degree. I have a Masters degree in a non science subject. But, because I don’t have a biology A level I may have to do a year long access course taking my non earning years to 4 in total to get the degree. It’s silly!

You could do the A Level…

I did Spanish GCSE in evenings at a sixth form college. I did it with my mum when I was 24 and she was about 64. It was great. Most others were 30-40 and a few weren't native English speakers. We did have to pay though.
I know they cut funding for ESOL as well as other subjects since then. Shame really.

Except you probably can't do an A-level now as an adult.

Agree there was lots of courses
Daytime and evening.
Only Maths and English now.