Adult education

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on adult education and basic skills. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
28.11.2012Education: Historical statistics
The organisation of every stage of education has undergone significant change over the last century. These changes have fundamentally altered most aspects of education. Historical indicators are therefore particularly interesting, but also problematic. Very few series are consistent over more than a few decades. The definition/size of different stages of education (primary, secondary, further/higher), school leaving ages and examinations have changed markedly as have state organisation and funding. As key concepts in education change so do the types of statistics collected. The increased role of the state in the first half of the 20th century also widened the scope of official education statistics.
14.09.2012Constituency Casework: Training
This note provides Members of Parliament and their staff with information related to frequently asked questions from constituents about training.
28.04.2011Changes to funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses
The purpose of this note is to outline the current debate on funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses and to summarise changes in policy in this area. ESOL funding has been subject to a series of changes since 2007 when automatic fee remission was removed. This note provides background on these changes, comments on the relevance of proposed changes with regard to the ongoing debate on social cohesion and integration and highlights Parliamentary debate on this issue.
19.01.2009Adult Education

Research Papers

DateDescription
10.12.2007Education and Skills Bill, Bill 12 of 2007-08
Education and Skills Bill. (Bill 12 of 2007/08). House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/87.
01.11.2001Social indicators
Social indicators. (Includes articles on Election Turnout, Adult Literacy and Sources of Social Security Statistics). House of Commons Library Research Paper 01/83.
28.03.2000Learning and Skills Bill (HL) (Bill 96 1999/2000)
Learning and Skills Bill (HL) (Bill 96 of 1999/2000). House of Commons Library Research Paper 00/39.

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
18.03.2009Re-skilling for recovery: after Leitch, implementing skills and training policies.
Government response. Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills; Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee report [Commons]
14.01.2009Skills for Life: progress in improving adult literacy and numeracy.
Public Accounts Committee report [Commons]
15.12.2008Re-skilling for recovery: after Leitch, implementing skills and training policies.
Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
31.10.2011WORKERS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION AND LEARNING THROUGH LIFE
That this House is aware that lifelong learning changes and enriches people's lives by its support for self confidence, health and well-being, it being also a powerful driver in aiding ...
21.12.2010ARRO'S ALL FOR EDUCATION CAMPAIGN AND ACCESS TO EDUCATION FOR EX-OFFENDERS
That this House supports ARRO's All for Education campaign to give ex-offenders a fair chance in access to educational courses and also access to the professions in the UK; calls for ...
20.10.2010FUNDING FOR ADULT LEARNING
That this House expresses its concern over prospects of severe and disproportionate reductions in funding for adult lifelong learning; notes the public statements in support of the ...
24.03.2010CHAIR OF PALAEOGRAPHY AT KING'S COLLEGE LONDON
That this House notes the proposal by the Executive of Kings College London as part of its budget review process to abolish the Chair of Palaeography, the only one of its kind in the ...
11.06.2009EDUCATIONAL PROVISION IN TOWER HAMLETS
That this House notes that Tower Hamlets College is planning to make 40 full-time lecturers redundant and cut classes including 1,500 places on English for Speakers of Other Languages ...

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - an occasional series of papers compiled by the House of Lords Library