to be shocked at the demise of adult education?

[Goldfsh]

Now I have an empty nest, I was hoping to start some adult education classes in academic topics that interest me, e.g. history or literature.

Having contacted the two local colleges who used to drop brochures for adult classes through the door, I've learnt that they don't exist any more!

There are some online classes, or courses to get back into work, and some painting type classes - or U3A if you are semi-retired (I am far from that unfortunately!). But no general education classes.

I found this very depressing. I really wanted to learn something new and connect with local people too. AIBU to be shocked that these sorts of classes are a thing of the past?

I wonder if, post-covid, there might be even MORE of a demand. So many people sick of virtual meetings and WFH with no social connections.

Do you have an independent library anywhere near you? Independent Libraries Association

The one near me tends to run these kind of courses now. Or maybe try your nearest University or records office.

Or look on Facebook Groups. I've seen a weekend philosophy cafe on my feed. Or try Meet-ups.

The local council runs loads of AE classes here. All sorts from crafts to maths, computer courses.

Ours has slowly turned into a career-feeder college with lots of Level 1 and 2 courses in computing plus ESL classes.

My mum used to go there and do tap dancing, line dancing, pottery, Christmas wreath making, etc. It seemed great for her social life. They also had photography, photoshop skills, local history, dressmaking…all sorts.

I’m currently doing Spanish beginners at evening classes. I’m doing module 1 which is a 10 week course finishing just before Christmas. There are 6 modules in all, and module 4 is also running now. Modules 2 and 5 start in January, then modules 3 and 6 starting after Easter.

There are actually two sets of these classes running in the evening, one in my town and the other in the next town along, which is 15 mins away. (Bizarrely I’m doing the course in the next town along, rather than in the town where I live!)

Yes! Same here.

I was looking for some evening classes but there’s nothing in my area.

I can do online distance learning courses, but I have already done the ones that interest me and to be honest, I struggled to actually stop pissing about and do the work.

I want to do a silver smithing course and some leather work (I want to learn to make a bag from an old saddle) and a photography course - but just can’t find anything like it. I remember my mum doing a pattern making evening classes a few years ago. They did a whole load of crafty type courses, but absolutely nothing now.

We do have an art centre that do courses but they only offer pottery classes, l’ve already done a year of that and have got bored with it.

I have found a lot of sports and activity things happen during the daytime now, rather than evenings. I guess this reflects the fact there are so many more people around during the day to attend at those times - the healthy-retired etc... - and those who run the sessions would much rather run them during the daytime if they can get enough money that way. Not helpful when you're looking for aquafit or tennis coaching and still work Mon-Fri 9-5.

Yes I agree. A couple of years ago I decided to do Maths GCSE as I failed my O'level many years ago (three times) and wanted to prove I could do it. As it happened I took a really good structured online course and went to a local school to take the exam. Once that was done (Grade 5 - yay!) I looked around for something less academic locally. But there was nothing. In the past I did French, picture framing, watercolour painting, astronomy and probably more I have forgotten. All gone 🙁

I want a GCSE French class .... nowhere to be found.

I love learning and would totally do more.

I see a lot of groups/classes advertised for arts and craft type things (portrait painting, sewing), choirs, drama groups etc but they aren't run by colleges but by private individuals or groups.
I also see groups for things like local history (often combining walks). My local park has a class/group that walks around the park learning about what plants can be used for foraging (eating etc).
There is loads of stuff out there if you want something to "do" - just not run by colleges anymore.
Check out meet-up.com and see what's on in your area.

Eventbrite is a good shout - I can see a talk next month at the local museum that looks interesting!

I agree with you OP, adult education now seems to be mainly focused on literacy, numeracy and preparing people for work. Which is good that these things are available and I think without charge. But there isn’t the opportunity to learn something just because you fancy doing so. When I was in my 20s pre-DC I regularly used to go to evening class and did various additional GCSEs in subjects that I was interested in, but none of that is available now.

Local authorities near me do tend to offer craft type activities, dress making, painting etc. Plus I am aware that Birmingham has excellent faculties for language learning and is open to people from neighbouring areas (ie you don’t have to actually live in Birmingham if you are near enough to get there).

The safeguarding element is food for thought, as years back things did take place at the local FE college, whereas now they tend to be in designated centres.

the OU have a site called Open Learn that does free courses that are quite good. Quite often they're chunks of the paid for modules that they run. May be worth a look.

Why does it have to be GCSE?
If you just want to learn French there's plenty of tutors out there.

I really just want to sit in a class and be lectured at! And have some classmates for discussions etc.

Retro night school stuff....

That’s interesting, I wonder if the situation differs across areas, or whether it’s our own perception. As one of the healthy-retirees, when I’ve been looking for day time classes, I’m finding they are mainly in the evening !

Funding cuts. End of.

not just directly that no money is given unless it has a valid qual at the end though that’s the big one. But also funding cuts in that the money given for FT students now has to go further - it used to be we could pay lecturers to do the odd evening and it was a nice little bonus but not any more. It also means no money to replace when staff leave so any spare is absorbed by existing staff meaning if they were to do evening classes they’d be working stupidly long hours.

the safeguarding point is interesting too, not just the endless red tape to get adults mixing with 16-18 but also that you need security/first aiders etc and guess what the colleges can’t afford them.

My only slight defence of government is numbers were massively declining in the sort of courses you would like, loads would express interest in something more social then just not turn up leaving tiny classes. A cultural thing I think, many no longer work “9-5” and can’t commit etc

I used to go to all sorts of evening classes, I even studied for my A Level English Literature at one.I
I really want to learn Italian so I checked out all the colleges near me and they don't do any classes at all. Very disappointed.
I am retired so I joined U3A (no Italian unfortunately) but I really didn't get on with it.
Very cliquey and run by bossy people with fixed ideas.

So I go to art classes at a nearby art centre which are quite pricey but only run in the daytime so we don't get a wide mix of people.

Such a great resource has been lost.

Yes - nothing in my area of Devon either. Except ESOL, which I don't need.

OP, do your local universities do any Continuing Education classes for adults? I've recently moved from Oxfordshire and Oxford Uni's OUDCE evening/daytime/weekend classes were brilliant. People would come up to Oxford from quite a distance for the week/weekend/ classes as they were so good. (Also, I know you're not keen on online study, but if other peeps on the thread are, check out https://lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/about/online-courses )

History groups are often a speaker who gives a talk.

I'm about an hour and a half from the nearest uni. It's possible I suppose, but I'm not sure I'm THAT motivated. It's too far for evenings anyway.

This makes me really cross, because if I was young today I'd be totally fucked for life.

I had a shit childhood, parental neglect and abuse, and left school with only 3 poor grade GCSEs because of it. I left home by 16, worked insecure minimum wage jobs, or on benefits, and life continued to be generally crap and poor. In my late 20s I went back to college and did more GCSEs and A levels and then went off to uni and it changed everything. I ended up full time employed in a decent career and have never been unemployed or on benefits since.

It was only possible because I got some adult education funded because I was on low income, otherwise I would have been trapped in poverty for life.

Now, someone in my situation couldn't do it. Yes you could theortically take a loan etc, but that assumes you know you can complete the course. I would certainly never have even thought I was capable of being educated in the first place because I did so badly at school. I was convinced I was stupid and lazy because I'd been told that all through my childhood. I would never have paid to do it as I thought I couldn't do it. Getting those qualifications as an adult really helped me realise I was capable of more.

Adult education is key to escaping shit childhoods.

It also lets people change career, and upskill as technology moves on.

I was pondering joining U3A and pretending I was semi-retired but the people I know who belong as exactly as you describe - slightly terrifying TBH! I'm not the confident and very well-off demographic that seems to populate my local branch... The history society seems to be very similar. They all meet at the local private schools and seem to have endless speakers with OBEs...

What if you are just a scuzzy povvo who wants to learn stuff?!?!

Unfortunately the the internet happened, so now most people prefer to learn online.

It means that most adult education courses just aren't profitable any more, they don't get the numbers to justify the cost.

( I don't actually mean "unfortunately the internet happened", I love the internet!)