This chapter deals with policies, programmes and qualifications targeted at adult learners over the age of 19 outside of higher education. It focuses on provision which is partly or fully publicly subsidised, and covers aspects of both vocational education for the workplace, and lifelong education to enable individuals to gain the fundamental skills required for life and work.
The article on the distribution of responsibilities covers the main stakeholder organisations and representative bodies as well as government departments and agencies. Some of these cover England only, while others have a remit for other parts of the UK.
The article on ‘Developments and Current Policy Priorities’ covers the main policy developments during the 2010-2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat Coalition Government, which have been influential in shaping current policy. Priorities for 2019/20 under the Conservative Government are set out in the 2019-2020 funding letter.
The article on the main providers focuses on further education (FE) colleges, which are at the centre of the sector, but also covers other providers in brief.
The article on main types of provision provides an overview of how qualification frameworks apply to adult education. It also provides links to statistics on learner participation. Its subsections cover:
- provision to raise achievement in basic skills, which focuses mainly on English and maths qualifications for adults
- provision to achieve a recognised qualification during adulthood, which covers general qualifications (including GCSEs and A levels), the Access to Higher Education Diploma, and vocational qualifications, including an overview of the recent technical education reforms
- provision targeting the transition to the labour market, that is, programmes which aim to encourage the hardest-to-reach adults back to learning and employment
- provision of liberal (popular) adult education which focuses on community learning, although this is not an area of strategic importance in England
- other types of publicly subsidised provision for adult learners, which focuses on apprenticeships.
The article on Validation of Non-formal and Informal Learning outlines some approaches used, although there is no agreed legal national approach or position to recognising non-formal and informal learning in England.
Article last reviewed December 2020.