Surrey pulling out of Leisure Learning

7.04.49pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 27th Jul 2006

The priority should be to protect services that people need

If you've signed up for leisure learning classes run by Surrey County Council this Autumn, make the most of them. From Autumn 2007 the County isn't intending to run them any more!

Leisure learning is paid for partly by fees, and partly by funding from the Learning and Skills Council. Surrey doesn't put any cash into it directly, but provides the buildings and staff. In a shock report last year, the Adult Learning Inspectorate graded courses in almost every subject 'inadequate'. This brought Adult Education in Surrey to crisis point. Unless a lot more money is found, "no way could it be brought up to pass re-inspection", the Tory Chair of the Schools and Communities committee acknowledged. But no way either will that additional funding be provided by Surrey's Tory County Council, although some other County Councils do subsidise services. The Learning and Skills Council cannot fund inadequate services.

Whether they are for dance, upholstery, or creative writing, many people find these courses bring benefits in terms of confidence and social gains, as well as the potential to open up further opportunities to learn at a higher level. The Adult Learning Inspectorate recognises this.Their criticisms focus on leadership and management, both of the curriculum and of resources.

"The priority now should be to protect services for those who need them most", said Cllr. Diana Smith (Knaphill), the Lib Dems' spokesperson for Schools and Communities. "These include people with learning difficulties and disadvantaged adult learners. After this, Surrey should co-operate with the Learning and Skills Council and outside providers to keep open a rich set of opportunities for everybody," she added. Ideally, a whole range of classes offering new interests and skills would be provided efficiently and effectively, at a fair cost to the learner and the community.

Unfortunately Surrey County Council's performance gives little reason for confidence in their ability to support a positive turn-round. It remains to be seen what part Surrey County Council will play in bringing about the changes needed, and whether they can be persuaded to regard the Adult Education Centres, many on potentially valuable sites, as a legacy for any successor organisation.