Statement of purpose
Coventry City Council’s Adult Education Service (CAES) provides learning opportunities for adults across Coventry, supporting residents to improve their lives and outcomes, enabling them to engage in their local communities and contribute to the economy of the City and beyond.
The Service actively supports objectives set in One Coventry Plan, Skills, Employment & Adult Education Service Plan, Coventry Skills Strategy, West Midlands Combined Authority Employment and Skills 2024 to 2027 plan, and also objectives set in the West Midlands and Warwickshire Local Skills Improvement Plan.
The Service supports all of these plans by:
- providing a good education up to level 2
- building strong and inclusive communities
- supporting residents into employment and supporting career progression
- meeting future skills needs at level 3 and above through upskilling and reskilling
Service strategic aims and objectives
We will:
- Engage residents with the highest needs
- Take a community placed-based approach, targeting the most deprived wards
- Provide inclusive, high quality teaching, learning and assessment
- Enable residents to access a pathway of progression according to their needs and goals
- Ensure financial viability and sustainability
Service vision
Our vision is to be a city where every individual - regardless of background or circumstance, has equitable access to quality skills, employment and education development and opportunities. By working together with employers, educators, and communities, we will continue to develop inclusive systems that put residents first, tackles inequality, and supports a greener, more connected economy.
Our goal is to help all residents thrive and benefit in the city’s success.
Adult Education Service
Address: Southfields Old SchoolSouth Street
Coventry
CV1 5EJ
Context setting
Local and national priorities and needs analysis
Coventry is a growing City with an estimated population of 355,600 residents. According to the Census 2021, 55.3% of Coventry’s total population is White British. This is notably lower than West Midlands (71.8%) and England (73.5%) and shows the proportion of the city population who are of White British ethnicity has fallen from 66.6% in 2011.
It means that Coventry’s population is made up of a notably higher percentage of people from ethnic heritage backgrounds compared to the national average.
Coventry has a strong economy with good growth and high levels of employment. The employment rate between July 2024 and June 2025 was 76% compared to 75% nationally in the same period.
Educational attainment in Coventry is slightly lower than national average. For the period 2021 (Census data), 19.4% of Coventry’s population aged 16+ had no formal qualifications compared to 18.2% nationally. The proportion of young people not in employment, education or training is lower than the national average (around 3.2% compared to 4.6% nationally), the rate is increasing at approximately 0.7 percentage points year-on-year, and longstanding disparities remain within the city, particularly in more deprived areas.
One of the challenges in Coventry is to increase the number of adults with at least a Level 3 qualification. Only 58.7% hold NVQ Level 3 or above, compared to 61.5% nationally. Currently, some areas, such as Foleshill and Wood End, have comparatively high levels of adults without any qualifications, and large numbers of the workforce have little more than Level 2 (e.g., GCSE grades 9 to 4 or A to C; Level 2 NVQ, intermediate apprenticeship).
(Source: Coventry City Council – Residents by Qualification Level report [https://www.censusdata.uk/e08000026-coventry/ts067-highest-level-of-qualification])
Service data
In 2024 to 2025 the service had 7,512 enrolments from 3,712 learners. Seventy-six per cent of learners were female and 24% male. Learners living in each of the 5 most deprived deciles of the IMD participate at rates higher than the Coventry population average (in total, 32% of the Coventry population and 44% of learners).
Further headline figures for Coventry include:
- estimated population of 365,500
- 30% Local Super Output Areas (LSOAs) rank in the top 10% of most deprived LSOAs nationally
- Coventry employment rate of 75%, compared to 76% nationally
- high educational attainment
- people aged 16 to 65 with no formal qualification in Coventry is 8%, compared to 7% nationally
- Coventry has 62% of residents qualified to at least level 3, compared with 68% nationally
- there has been an increase of adults with at least a level 3 qualification
- Coventry has a high level of adults without a qualification. Large numbers of the workforce have little more than level 2 (for example, GCSE grades 9 to 4 or A* to C, level 2 NVQ, intermediate apprenticeship)
Adult Education Service
Address: Southfields Old SchoolSouth Street
Coventry
CV1 5EJ
Local priorities
Coventry City Council recognises the key role that adult learning has in supporting its residents. The Council’s Plan has 3 strategic priorities, and the Service works to support all 3:
1. Increasing the economic prosperity of the city and region
We support individuals who want to acquire skills that support their working lives. This can include those in need of new skills, people who are economically inactive or individuals new to Coventry who need help and support to work.
2. Improving outcomes and tackling inequalities within our communities
Our learning offers many opportunities for families and individuals to learn skills and behaviours which can support family cohesion and individuals to live healthier lives. Crucially, community learning provides mechanisms to reduce isolation, support recovery of mental health and support interaction.
This approach will support a wider approach as well as the health and independence of our communities.
3. Tackling the causes and consequences of climate change
As Coventry adapts to a Net Zero future and deals with the effects of Climate Change, the Adult Education Service can work with the Sustainability and Climate Change Team and Outdoor Education Service and external partner organisations to provide courses which can help individuals and families to navigate the changes and challenges which will impact on the world of work as well as our communities.
Adult Education Service
Address: Southfields Old SchoolSouth Street
Coventry
CV1 5EJ
National priorities
Nationally, Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, in conjunction with wider post-18 skills approaches are a critical element of the Government’s ‘Get Britain Working’ agenda with many references made to the importance of skills through key Government policy documents.
The White Paper sets out a plan to educate and train the workforce of the future, ensuring people have the skills and knowledge to succeed.
Key priorities:
- joined-up skills and employment system to support young people, adults, and employers
- high-quality pathways into further and higher education, including technical and vocational routes
- employer partnerships to align training with labour market needs
- commitment to two-thirds of young people entering higher-level education or training by age 25
- expansion of Skills Bootcamps, Lifelong Learning Entitlement (from 2027), and foundation apprenticeships
There is a wider recognition of the benefits of learning. This reinforces the value of ‘First Step’ adult and community learning, bringing it closer to social prescribing models and contributing to the wider ‘Marmot Principles’ approach adopted by many service areas within the City Council. There is also a renewed emphasis on the importance of increasing the overall number of workers within the economy with a minimum of a level 3 qualification.
Taken together, these national approaches indicate that the Adult Education Service will need to further develop its focus on building accessible learning pathways that raise aspiration and enable the acquisition of life changing skills, qualifications and/or wider benefits such as improved health and wellbeing.
Learning pathways will clearly identify learners’ starting points and support progression to positive destinations. In order to increase its contribution to the national skills priorities, the service will actively increase its understanding of the skills needs/demands within the local economy and how those needs can be met through closer links with the Job Shop, DWP Job Centre, Chamber of Commerce, Coventry College and key employers.
Adult Education Service
Address: Southfields Old SchoolSouth Street
Coventry
CV1 5EJ
Approach to developing the Annual Accountability Statement
This Accountability Statement has been informed by central government, combined mayoral authority, and local plans. These include:
- One Coventry Plan [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/strategies-plans-policies/one-coventry-plan]
- WMCA Employment and Skills Strategy 2024 to 2027 [http://www.wmca.org.uk/documents/productivity-skills/employment-and-skills-strategy-2024-2027/]
- Get Britain Working White Paper [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/get-britain-working-white-paper/get-britain-working-white-paper]
- Post-16 education and skills white paper [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/post-16-education-and-skills-white-paper/post-16-education-and-skills-white-paper]
- Coventry Skills Strategy [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/employment-support/coventry-skills-strategy]
- CAES Strategic Plan
The service has further developed its plans in response to the Get Britain Working agenda, and the emerging regional priorities from the West Midlands and Warwickshire Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP). The Council has strong links with local colleges and private training providers and there is a clear understanding of each other’s priorities and target groups, enabling a collaborative approach across the City with clear progression routes.
Membership of the Coventry Skills Board includes representation from the National Careers Service, Department for Work and Pensions, Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses, Colleges, and Universities. The Board is chaired by the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Education & Skills.
Strategic links and partnerships
- Department for Work and Pensions
- National Careers Service
- Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce
- Coventry College
- University of Warwick
- Coventry University
- University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust
- GMB Union
- DHL
- Co-Op
- West Midlands Police
- E-on
- SEGRO
Voluntary and community sector organisations, and primary and secondary schools across the City, particularly in areas of highest needs. Collaboration with other Council services include:
- Libraries & Information
- Education
- Public Health
- Digital Inclusion
- Learning & Development
- Throughcare
- Early Help/Family Hubs
- Economic Development
Adult Education Service
Address: Southfields Old SchoolSouth Street
Coventry
CV1 5EJ
Our contribution to national, regional and local priorities
| Impact and/or Contribution towards National, Regional and Local Priorities for Learning and Skills | Priorities impacted and reason for objective |
|---|---|
| We will embed employability skills, progression routes and increase Careers Advice & Guidance throughout all curriculum pathways. This will support individuals to up-skill and re-skill, in order to gain and improve employment opportunities, with a particular focus on those in deprived neighbourhoods (IMD lowest 30%), and economically inactive residents aged 19 to 24 years old and over 50s. | Supports the national, regional (LSIP) priorities to increase the number of residents in work, reducing dependency on public services. |
|
We will further develop Community Learning provision that supports the local economy by developing routes into vocational courses, including pilot of Foundation Programmes in 2025 to 2026 in readiness for a wider roll out in 2026 to 2027. We will do this by working closely with the Skills & Employment Team, improving links with relevant agencies to increase our awareness and understanding of the local economy and skills shortages in order to match provision to local demand:
Participation in at least 8 community activities and/or events to raise profile of service among local communities:
|
Supports the national, regional (LSIP) priorities to increase the number of residents in work, reducing dependency on public services. |
|
We will improve digital inclusion by targeting digitally excluded residents and by working with #CovConnects to offer free devices and/or data allowance, and short digital skills sessions that support increased digital confidence for everyday life. We will increase the number of learners on digital courses from 430 in 2024 to 2025 to 550 in 2025 to 2026. |
Supports Get Britain Working and national priorities around Digital & Technology. |
| Impact and/or Contribution towards National, Regional and Local Priorities for Learning and Skills | Priorities impacted and reason for objective |
|---|---|
| We will further develop our programmes for adults with disabilities and/or learning difficulties, delivering the skills needed to support personal development, increased independence and employability. | These courses support Council priorities and develop core transferable skills that support independence and reduce dependency on other public services. |
| We will extend the reach and impact of our English and maths courses, building on the successful innovative approaches developed through the Multiply project. We will reinforce progression routes through a wide curriculum offer, from Foundation Programmes, non-accredited 'Brush Up on Your…', as well as Functional Skills and GCSE qualifications. | English and maths provision underpins all national, regional and local priorities and gives residents the skills and qualifications they need to secure jobs, progress at work and lead independent lives. |
|
We will further support the integration of people from minority heritage backgrounds (including those from Afghanistan, Middle East and Ukraine) through the delivery of non-accredited intensive language acquisition and life skills programmes that respond to local needs. We will increase the number of learners on digital courses from 430 in 2024 to 2025 to 550 in 2025 to 2026. |
Underpins national, regional and local priorities by upskilling people from minority heritage communities, enabling them to integrate into. |
|
We will further develop our community based First Steps provision. This work will be driven through the Connect to Skills team targeting ‘cold spot’ areas to support residents to overcome barriers to learning and enabling them to progress e.g. by ensuring classes are at times and locations (community centres, libraries and Family Hubs) that meet their needs. We will support progression by further developing pathways that enable residents to progress into further learning and gain the skills and qualifications that will improve their life chances, targeting the following sectors: Warehousing & Logistics, Early Years, Green Skills & sustainability & Health & Social Care. |
Supports Great Britain Working agenda, known sectors with high volume of vacancies within the city, and One Coventry priorities. |
| We will further develop our Family Learning provision, targeting children and their families in lowest 30% IMD areas. | Supports the council’s priority to improve attainment in schools. |
| Impact and/or Contribution towards National, Regional and Local Priorities for Learning and Skills | Priorities impacted and reason for objective |
|---|---|
|
We will increase our focus on green literacy, developing sustainability and climate change curriculum in collaboration with relevant partner organisations e.g. Act on Energy, E-on and piloting modules through place- based approaches and initiatives. The Green Literacy Pathway will take a modular approach to raising awareness and understanding of key environmental issues including: waste sorting; reducing single-use plastics; financial resilience, circular economy, household contribution to net zero; home composting; financial literacy including better understanding of household energy use/bills and ways to save money including basics about retrofit and how to access grant and information. |
Aligns with Coventry’s Climate Change Strategy (2024 to 2030). It supports pathways such as Adaptation & Resilience, Route to Net Zero, Circular Economy, Fairer Green Future, and Nature Recovery. It also reflects the Green Skills Roadmap, to support the journey to workforce readiness for emerging green sectors. |
| As part of Coventry’s Climate Change Action Plan and commitment to partnership working for long term impact, Eon Net Zero Academy staff will upskill up to 8 Adult Education Service tutors in the delivery of green literacy. It is anticipated that this will comprise shadowing Eon staff delivery in community settings, and up to 8 mentoring/train the-trainer type sessions. | NA |
Council statement:
On behalf of Coventry City Council, it is hereby confirmed that the plan as set out reflects the agreed statement of purpose, aims and objectives as approved by the Council’s Head of Skills, Employment & Adult Education Service. The Accountability Agreement will be published on the Council’s website within 3 months of the start of the new academic year.
Adult Education Service
Address: Southfields Old SchoolSouth Street
Coventry
CV1 5EJ
Links to supporting documentation
- One Coventry Plan [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/strategies-plans-policies/one-coventry-plan]
- Adult Education Service Latest Ofsted report [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/adult-education/adult-education-service-inspection-report]
- Learner Impact Survey 2023 to 2024 [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/adult-education/adult-education-service-learner-impact-survey-2023-24-summary-report]
- WMCA Employment and Skills Strategy 2024 to 2027 [http://www.wmca.org.uk/documents/productivity-skills/employment-and-skills-strategy-2024-2027/]
- Get Britain Working White Paper [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/get-britain-working-white-paper/get-britain-working-white-paper]
Adult Education Service
Address: Southfields Old SchoolSouth Street
Coventry
CV1 5EJ