West Midlands partnership tackles educational disadvantage

WEA learners in the West Midlands have been among the participants of a research project focusing on the learning journeys of students from working class backgrounds who hope to go on to study at university.

They said that they appreciated and benefited from the informal, flexible nature of their WEA course, and from the support provided by their tutors. In addition to their academic achievements, most felt that the courses had led to positive changes to their sense of identity, communication skills, social relationships, confidence and self-esteem.

(Left) A new website has been created with further information on the project and for learners to record their views and experiences of learning.

Further findings included the importance of such courses being provided free to the student, as many would not otherwise be able to attend, and provided evidence that time and money were the main barriers to their progression on to university.

The research was funded by the Lloyds TSB Foundation and carried out by a partnership between the WEA, the Open University and Staffordshire University. Learners from the three institutions were interviewed and surveyed on their previous educational level, motives for study, intended progression routes after their current course and the impact of studying on their lives.

The WEA learners involved came from two groups: assistant social workers from central Birmingham, and learners on community-based courses in Rugeley, Staffordshire. Most learners in both groups had left school at 16 or earlier. The assistant social workers are on a Learning at Work Pathway, and hope to go on to university to become qualified social workers, whilst the learners in Rugeley, a former mining community, attend a Social Studies Pathway at the Miners' Social and Welfare Club - this is an introduction to the study of issues in UK Society since 1945, which can contribute credits towards an Access to Higher Education certificate recognised throughout the UK education system.

The full report will be released in January, and a collaborative website (above) is already up and running at the Open University. The findings of the research will be used to promote understanding of adult learners' experiences and acknowledgement of the wider benefits of adult learning by government and other funding bodies. Learners can log onto the website and leave details of their own experiences - this is also suggested as a useful reflective activity for tutors to carry out with their classes, perhaps as part of the learner evaluation process.

WEA Access to Higher Education specialist, Howard Croft co-ordinated the WEA’s part in the project. Further information on the project is available from Howard Croft by email or telephone: or 0121 666 6101.

The new project website can be found at the Open University website.

Further information on the work of the WEA in the West Midlands is available from:

Workers' Educational Association
West Midlands Region
78/80 Sherlock Street
Birmingham
B6 6LT
Tel: 0121 666 6101
Fax: 0121 622 2526
Email: westmidlands@wea.org.uk