Foreword: Weâre here to deliver impact
Coventry City Council is committed to adult and community learning provision and ensuring there is a balanced programme that provides opportunity for residents to benefit from a broad range of learning outcomes and progression routes. We want to give everyone an opportunity to thrive, and make sure no one is left behind.
This report highlights the positive impact that learning with the Adult Education Service has on our residents and communities. It summarises respondents feedback on how the range of educational programmes have developed life skills, work skills, and skills to connect with other services, cope with social isolation, and improve health and wellbeing in line with One Coventry Plan priorities.
It is very encouraging to see that over 70% of respondents were supported into further learning, volunteering or employment, demonstrating that the Adult Education Service continues to meet high standards and help people achieve their goals.
Cllr. Dr Kindy Sandhu
Cabinet Member for Education and Skills
Adult Education Service
Address: Southfields Old SchoolSouth Street
Coventry
CV1 5EJ
Background to the survey
This survey explored the impact of Adult Education Service courses that were predominately completed in the Autumn and Spring term within academic year 2023/24. The sample included learners who completed single and multiple courses across a broad range of subject areas which were delivered face to face, either online or in a community venue.
The data was gathered using an online questionnaire which was sent out to approximately 3,000 individuals with email addresses, and eligible permissions, four to six months after they completed their course of study. The survey generated an effective sample of 530 returns (response rate of 18%) providing an insight into the difference learning with the Service made on their lives.
Over 80% of respondents accessed their course via face-to-face delivery in community settings, 12% accessed their course online, and 7% accessed their course through a blended approach of both face-to-face and online learning.
Adult Education Service
Address: Southfields Old SchoolSouth Street
Coventry
CV1 5EJ
Introduction: What do we do?
The Adult Education Service exists to provide accessible high quality learning opportunities for adults âto help them achieve personal goals and connect with their wider community. We enable people to build skills for work, get a qualification, try something new, meet people from different backgrounds, increase confidence and independence and improve health and wellbeing.
We strive to empower those with the highest level of need, reduce inequalities and improve the life chances of people in the city:
‘Being able to continue to learn and improve means so much to me and how lucky l am to live in Coventry with an Education Service who gives me and people like me with learning problems a chance to learn to be a part of my community allowing me to make choices in my life to take me forward and of course also giving me a positive outlook on people and life’
Learning programmes target those who are unemployed, whose first language is not English, young people who are not in employment or training, families and young parents, older people who are no longer working and require social engagement, as well as those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. We are part of the Skills, Employment and Adult Education Service working closely alongside the Job Shop and Employer Hub, providing a seamless service for residents.
Our offer includes courses and programmes that promote:
- Learning for Life: This route is for residents seeking help with personal development or support with their family life.
- Learning to Connect: This route is for residents who are seeking new outlets and want to give back to the community.
- Learning for Work: This route is for adults whose primary focus is either getting work, changing their job, or gaining promotion.
We recognise that partnership working, building on trusted relationships is vital to engaging and supporting adults in need. We acknowledge that we should not accept that certain individuals or communities are ‘hard to reach’ and try to make our provision ‘easier to enter’. To this end, we collaborate with a range of voluntary and community sector organisations, faith groups and other stakeholders to extend our reach and maximise impact.
Adult Education online [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/adult-education]
Adult Education Service
Address: Southfields Old SchoolSouth Street
Coventry
CV1 5EJ
Learning for life: impact statistics
Note: respondents may have enrolled on multiple courses across a range of subject areas with different learning outcomes attached to each course.
|
Undertaking a course has: |
Strongly agree or agree |
|---|---|
|
Improved communication skills |
70% |
|
Improved IT/digital skills |
40% |
|
Improved problem-solving skills |
56% |
|
Improved decision making skills |
57% |
|
Improved reading and/or writing skills |
52% |
|
Improved maths/numeracy skills |
34% |
I am grateful to have the opportunities to improve in both English and Maths skills. I can now confidently prepare for my bachelor’s degree in Adult Nursing.
I am more computer literate and confident which is vital to survive in today’s world. I am using my laptop with more confidence, and I can now carry out more tasks and use multimedia to express myself.
Learning to dance and play instruments has enhanced my life in the direction I needed to go, into amateur performing arts.
It has helped me to express myself more clearly and competently It has increased my confidence generally and especially when conversing/interacting with others
Parenting/grandparenting
Note: respondents may have enrolled on multiple courses across a range of subject areas with different learning outcomes attached to each course
| Learners on courses stated that they: | Strongly agree or agree |
|---|---|
|
Felt more confident about helping their child(ren) with reading, writing or maths. |
75% |
|
Felt more confident in helping with their children’s school activities |
76% |
|
Believed their relationship with the children improved |
70% |
|
Said they are able to help their children to lead a healthier lifestyle |
71% |
|
Reported improvements in their children’s educational achievement |
65% |
I have more confidence in teaching maths and English to my children
There is a child at my volunteer work placement who has behaviour issues. Now I'm able to communicate with the child by using some tips I learnt from my teacher for example… […] …acknowledge their good behaviour. I used the technique by saying to the child ‘I saw you; you said sorry to other child when you pushed it accidentally that's very good manner, well done, proud of you’. The child smiled at me that I acknowledged her good behaviour and since that the child listens to me and follows my instructions.
I learned ideas around brain development, parenting, sensory needs, and supporting my child in a calm and positive way.
I now understand what my kids learn at school, and I am better able to help them
Adult Education Service
Address: Southfields Old SchoolSouth Street
Coventry
CV1 5EJ
Learning to Connect: impact statistics
Note: respondents may have enrolled on multiple courses across a range of subject areas with different learning outcomes attached to each course.
| Learners reported that they: | Strongly agree or agree |
|---|---|
|
gained skills or knowledge that could help in voluntary work |
59% |
|
felt more of a sense of belonging to their community |
70% |
|
were interested in making their local area a better place to live |
67% |
|
met people from different backgrounds |
91% |
|
have more understanding of other cultures |
64% |
|
feel less isolated |
69% |
|
made new friendships |
82% |
95% of respondents on Health and Wellbeing related courses reported that their course helped their mind be active, 97% said it improved overall wellbeing. As a direct result of the course, 67% were inspired to take up a new hobby or interest, 81% said it increased self-confidence, 70% said it helped to keep physically active.
22% of respondents said they made fewer visits to their GP as a result of attending the course, thereby helping to reduce the burden on NHS and other healthcare services:
I think these classes have prevented me from having any mental health problems that may have occurred following my retirement due to social isolation and lack of activities. I have learnt lots of new skills, made friends and kept fit.
It has reduced my anxiety to the extent that I'm feeling calm and now volunteer in my hospice.
It has allowed me to form friendships with others who share my interest, and we have worked together and given each other support with our projects.
It has given me more a sense of having a purpose in life and something to look forward with eagerness and excitement.
Adult Education Service
Address: Southfields Old SchoolSouth Street
Coventry
CV1 5EJ
Learning for work: impact statistics
Of respondents that answered a question regarding their employment status, 36% reported that they were in work at the time of the course; and 64% stated they were not in work.
| Learners reported that they: | Strongly agree or agree |
|---|---|
|
Considered the course helped them to do their job better |
65% |
|
Felt the course had improved their leadership and/or management skills |
51% |
|
Believed the course had helped develop relationships with people at work |
60% |
|
Reported earning more, gaining a promotion, or taking on more responsibility |
39% |
|
Felt the course gave them the confidence and/or opportunity to obtain a qualification |
58% |
I was doing volunteer work while doing my course. As soon as I completed my course, I was offered a paid job in same place.
[It has helped with] Interpersonal relationships and confidence to speak publicly
Adult Education has really helped me to gain more knowledge and confidence which really helped with my job
I never had confidence to work in school however with adult education's help and support, I have built up confidence to work in a school.
| Learners reported that they | Strongly agree or agree |
|---|---|
|
Improved their skills, knowledge or motivation to find work |
31% |
|
Experienced greater confidence in searching for a job |
31% |
|
Had gained skills they needed for the job they want |
30% |
|
Felt more confident about keeping a job |
25% |
|
Had a better understanding about further training and support |
34% |
| Helped me access the Council's Job Shop | 20% |
It has made me more confident applying for creative jobs
I'm looking forward for seeking employment because I have gained knowledge and experience, I'm more confident
I am retired for now, but courses would be helpful if I was looking for work
I now have one year of work experience and better able to prepare for my working future
Adult Education Service
Address: Southfields Old SchoolSouth Street
Coventry
CV1 5EJ
Learner Journey
Kseniya came from the Ukraine to Coventry in Summer 2022 on a family sponsorship programme. Kseniya has had to overcome many personal challenges since arriving in the UK. She joined an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class in Autumn 2022 to practise her speaking skills, improve her confidence and gain a qualification. She has already achieved Level 1 Speaking and Listening & Reading exams and will soon complete a Level 1 Writing exam.
Kseniya has also completed a volunteer skills course and secured a volunteering placement in the role of a Welcomer with Coventry Cathedral. She has already made such an impact that the Volunteer Coordinator has offered her a placement in an administration role at the Cathedral where she will be working with the Chief Executive Officer.
In addition, she has started volunteering for the Adult Education Service. She will work with ESOL Migration learners and give one to one support. Both volunteer placements will help her towards achieving her future plan of working as a teaching assistant or administrator in an educational setting. As Kseniya puts it
‘When I came here from Ukraine, I had no clue what I was going to do here. The only thing I clearly realised was that no one can succeed without knowing the language of the country they lived in. This understanding brought me to an ESOL assessment and my learning journey with Adult Education Service. At the very beginning I thought only about improving my English. Firstly, I wanted to feel confident using it in everyday life, and secondly, I realised that I needed it to be more in demand in the labour market…
Learning has changed different aspects of my life…[…]…It has had a very positive impact on my mental health, as it is extremely difficult to realise that everything you achieved and loved is in the past. My self-confidence has grown. Meeting and communicating with new people helped a lot. You begin to see that you are not the only one trying to get used to a new place and new life.
I believe that volunteering is a good start for me as a foreigner and help in meeting career goals...[Learning] is something that can give you a renewed sense of purpose, new friendships and a new outlook on life’.
Adult Education Service in numbers 2023-24
In the academic year 2023-24 we supported 4,062 adults and young people with 8,852 enrolments. Of these:
- 49% enrolments were Community Learning; 47% Adult Skills; 3% Study Programme for 16–19-year-olds; 1% Apprenticeship programmes
- Achievement rate: all levels, types & funding = 87.8% in 2023/24, an increase of 0.5% from 2022/23
- Retention rate: 94.26% in 2023/24 an increase of 0.8% from 2022/23
- Pass rate: 93.22% in 2023/24; compared to 94% in 2022/23
- 47% of learners were from ethnic heritage groups.
- 49% of learners were from the lowest 30% deprivation codes in the country
- 18% of learners declared a learning difficulty and/or disability
- 76% of learners were women and 24% male
Adult Education Service
Address: Southfields Old SchoolSouth Street
Coventry
CV1 5EJ