Data released this morning by the Department for Education gives us a first look at adult learner participation in FE and skills this academic year.
There were 1,071,900 adult learners recorded last quarter, up 1.5 per cent on the same period last year.
The data, which doesn’t include apprenticeships, shows the number of adults taking courses at below level 2 (excluding essential skills) has increased the most so far this year. There were 140,760 adults taking those courses in quarter one, up 20 per cent on the year before.
There were five per cent fewer adult taking part in English and maths essential skills courses, 286,450 in quarter one of this year down from 301,180 the year before.
