On International Women’s Day, 8 March 2021, former Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow chaired a fascinating discussion on Why do we need adult education now? with Lord (David) Blunkett, former Secretary of State for Education & Home Secretary, Helen Chicot, Place Integration Lead at Rochdale Borough Council, Dame Helen Ghosh, Chair of the Centenary Commission on Adult Education and Master of Balliol College, Oxford, and Professor Selina Todd, Professor of Modern History at Oxford University and author of Snakes and Ladders: The great British social mobility myth. You can watch and listen to a recording here.
In the Mail Online, Dame Helen Ghosh comments on what she calls ‘worrying figures’ which show ‘the extent of education inequalities in our country’. ‘As we emerge from the pandemic,’ she urged government ‘to rebuild lifelong learning as a key part of their commitment to levelling up’.
Read ‘One fifth of adults in the country’s ‘education blackspots’ have NO academic qualifications, figures reveal’ (8 March 2021) here.
On 8 March 2021 The Daily Telegraph publishes a letter from leading figures in public life, culture and education on the importance of adult and lifelong learning. Signatories include former cabinet ministers and ministers of education, university vice chancellors, leaders of adult and further education, heads of Oxford and Cambridge colleges, most university professors who research adult learning, and leading trade unionists. For reasons of space The Daily Telegraph could not print all the 137 signatories; they are listed below.
As schools and colleges return, we must not neglect the millions of adults whose lives have been upended by the pandemic. The government’s ‘skills revolution’ is valuable, but only a start. We need skills for life, not just ‘skills for jobs’. Broad and flexible adult education builds community, strengthens mental health, and helps people lead fulfilling lives. Nine million adults in England still struggle even with the essential skills of reading, writing, and computing. We urgently call for: a properly funded national strategy led by a dedicated lifelong learning minister; a community learning centre in every town; money for individuals and groups to shape their own learning; new regional partnerships between local and regional authorities, voluntary groups, universities and FE colleges; restoration of the Union Learning Fund; and requiring universities to provide adult education in their communities. Post-pandemic investment in wider adult education will pay real dividends. No-one must be left behind.
Dame Helen Ghosh, Chair of the Centenary Commission on Adult Education; Master of Balliol College, Oxford Sir Alan Tuckett, Vice-Chair of the Centenary Commission; former Chief Executive of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education
Other signatories are:
Former Members of the Cabinet and Education ministers: Lord (David) Blunkett, former Secretary of State for Education & Employment Lord Boswell of Aynho, former Conservative MP and Education Minister; Baroness (Virginia) Bottomley, Chancellor University of Hull; former Secretary of State for Health and for National Heritage; Sir Vince Cable, former Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills; Lord (Jim) Knight of Weymouth, former Minister of State for Education and Skills; Baroness (Estelle) Morris, former Secretary of State for Education; Lord (Chris) Smith, Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge and former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport; Baroness (Ann) Taylor, former Leader of the House of Commons and Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee.
Other leading politicians: Lord (Neil) Kinnock, former WEA Tutor/Organiser, Leader of the Opposition and European Commissioner John Bercow, former Speaker of the House of Commons Daisy Cooper, MP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Education Baroness (Sue) Garden of Frognal, Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Further & Higher Education, House of Lords Margaret Greenwood, MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Adult Education Paul Blomfield, MP for Sheffield Central Ian Mearns, MP for Gateshead, member of House of Commons Education Select Committee Baroness (Julie) Smith of Newnham, Fellow of Robinson College, Cambridge Lord (Mike) Storey, Liberal Democrat House of Lords spokesperson on Education Gordon Marsden, former Shadow Minister for Higher & Further Education and Skills
Former leading civil servants: Lord (Bob) Kerslake, former Head of the Home Civil Service Dame Helen Ghosh, former Permanent Secretary at the Home Office
Mayors and officials of regional Combined Authorities: Dan Jarvis, MP, Mayor of Sheffield City Region; Jamie Driscoll, Mayor, North of Tyne Combined Authority; Julie Nugent, Director of Productivity and Skills, West Midlands Combined Authority.
Vice Chancellors and former vice chancellors: Professor Tim Blackman, Vice-Chancellor, The Open University Professor ProfessorJackie Dunne, Vice-Chancellor, Newman University, Birmingham Professor David Latchman, Vice Chancellor, Birkbeck University of London Professor Geoff Layer, Vice-Chancellor, University of Wolverhampton Rev. Canon Professor Peter Neil, Vice-Chancellor, Bishop Grossteste University, Lincoln Professor Sir Rick Trainor, Rector, Exeter College, Oxford; former President of King’s College London and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Greenwich Sir Chris Husbands, Vice-Chancellor, Sheffield Hallam University Professor RamaThirunamachandran, Vice-Chancellor & Principal, Canterbury Christ Church University; Sir Peter Scott, former Vice-Chancellor, Kingston University and Editor, The Times Higher Education Supplement Sir Anthony Seldon, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Buckingham Mary Stuart, Vice-Chancellor, University of Lincoln
Heads and former heads of Oxford and Cambridge colleges: Dame Helen Ghosh, Master of Balliol College, Oxford and Chair of the Centenary Commission on Adult Education Will Hutton, journalist; former Principal, Hertford College, Oxford Baroness (Helena) Kennedy, QC, author of seminal report on Further Education, Learning Works, former Principal of Mansfield College, Oxford ProfessorJonathan Michie, President of Kellogg College, Oxford and Chair, Universities Association for Lifelong Learning Dr Alice Prochaska, former Principal, Somerville College Oxford Professor Sir Rick Trainor, Rector, Exeter College, Oxford Baroness (Jan) Royall, PC, Principal of Somerville College, Oxford Lord (Chris) Smith, Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge and former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Other Higher Education leaders: Baroness (Joan) Bakewell, DBE, President, Birkbeck University of London Mary Curnock Cook, CBE, former Chief Executive of UCAS TimMelville-Ross, CBE, former Chair, Higher Education Funding Council for England Paul Manners, Director, National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement Professor Graeme Atherton, Director, National Education Opportunities Network (NEON)
Leaders of Adult and Further Education: David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges Simon Parkinson, CEO and General Secretary, WEA Dr Susan Pember, CBE, Director of Policy, Holex, the professional body for Adult Community Education and Learning Dame Ruth Silver, President, Further Education Trust for Leadership, former Principal of Lewisham College Stephen Evans, Chief Executive, Learning & Work Institute Liz Bromley, Chief Executive, NCG, one of UK’s largest FE college groups Kirstie Donnelly, MBE, Chief Executive, City & Guilds Group Mark Malcomson, CBE, Principal and Chief Executive, The City Lit, London Yultan Mellor, Principal, Northern College of Adult Education, Barnsley Mel Lenehan, Principal, Fircroft College of Adult Education, Birmingham Ros Morpeth, OBE, Chief Executive, National Extension College Dr Cilla Ross, Principal, Co-operative College Andrew Cropley, Principal and Chief Executive, Vision West Nottinghamshire College Helen Hammond, Principal, Working Men’s College, London Paul di Felice, Principal, Ruskin College, Oxford Gabrielle Flint, Principal, Richmond & Hillcroft Adult & Community College Dr Andrew Gower, Principal & Chief Executive, Morley College, London Dr Rob Hindle, Senior Area Education Manager, Yorkshire and Humberside Region WEA Suzanna Jackson, Warden, Mary Ward Settlement, London Dame Moira Gibb, Chair of Governors, The City Lit. Jol Miskin, adult educator; former Regional Education Manager, WEA Ruth Spellman, OBE, former General Secretary, WEA Nigel Todd, Chair of Trustees, The Co-operative College Professor Sir Alan Tuckett, Vice-Chair of the Centenary Commission, former CEO of NIACE Matt Waddup, Co-founder, Right2Learn campaign Jill Westerman, CBE, Vice Chair, Further Education Trust for Leadership, former Principal of Northern College, Governor of the City Lit.
Public figures and opinion leaders: Baroness (Joan) Bakewell, DBE, President, Birkbeck University of London Helen Barnard, Director, Joseph Rowntree Foundation Dr Sharon Clancy, Chair, Raymond Williams Foundation Rod Clark, Chief Executive, Prisoners’ Education Trust Sir Jon Coles, Group Chief Executive,United Learning Trust Uzo Iwobi, OBE, Chief Executive, Race Council Cymru Judith Judd, Former Editor, The Times Educational Supplement Grayson Perry, CBE, RA, artist HisHonour John Samuels, QC, President, Prisoners’ Education Trust Philippa Perry, psychotherapist and author Professor Anna Vignoles, CBE, FBA, Director, Leverhulme Trust (in a personal capacity).
Trade Union leaders: Frances O’Grady, General Secretary, Trades Union Congress Lord (John) Monks, former General Secretary, Trades Union Congress Roz Foyer, General Secretary, Scottish Trades Union Congress Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary, National Education Union Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary, National Education Union DrJo Grady, General Secretary, University and College Union Doug Nicholls, General Secretary, General Federation of Trade Unions Dave Ward, General Secretary, Communication Workers’ Union Sarah Woolley, General Secretary, Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union Kate Dearden, Head of Research, Policy & External Relations, Community the Union Kate Hudson, Head of Equality, Education & Development, Communication Workers Union DeborahLawson, Assistant General Secretary, Community union Roger McKenzie, Assistant General Secretary, Unison Jim Mowatt, Director of Education, Unite the union Tom Wilson, former Director of Unionlearn
Leading academics and researchers on adult learning: Ann-Marie Bathmaker, Professor of Vocational & Higher Education, University of Birmingham David Barton, Emeritus Professor of Language and Literacy, Lancaster University Greg Brooks, Emeritus Professor of Education, University of Sheffield Ellen Boeren, Professor of Adult Education, University of Glasgow Lalage Bown, OBE, Emeritus Professor of Adult Education, University of Glasgow John Bynner, Emeritus Professor of Social Sciences in Education, UCL Claire Callender, OBE, Professor of Higher Education, Birkbeck & UCL Frank Coffield, Emeritus Professor of Education, UCL Diane Coyle, Bennett Professor of Public Policy, University of Cambridge Danny Dorling, Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography, University of Oxford; Vicky Duckworth, Professor of Education, Edge Hill University; Karen Evans, Emeritus Professor of Education, UCL John Field, Professor Emeritus of Lifelong Learning, University of Stirling Alan Felstead, Research Professor, School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University Alison Fuller, Professor of Vocational Education and Work, UCL Andy Green, Professor of Comparative Social Science, UCL Francis Green, Professor of Work and Education Economics, UCL Mary Hamilton, Professor Emerita of Adult Learning and Literacy, Lancaster University John Holford, Robert Peers Professor of Adult Education, University of Nottingham David James, Professor of Sociology of Education, University of Cardiff Hugh Lauder, Professor of Education and Political Economy, University of Bath Professor Ewart Keep, Emeritus Professor of Education, Training and Skills, University of Oxford Lorna Unwin, OBE, Professor Emerita of Vocational Education, UCL Dr Melissa Highton, Assistant Principal for Online Learning, University of Edinburgh Simon McGrath, UNESCO Professor of International Education & Development, University of Nottingham Michael Osborne, Professor of Adult and Lifelong Learning, University of Glasgow Gemma Moss, Professor of Literacy, UCL Diane Reay, Emeritus Professor of Education, University of Cambridge Sheila Riddell, Professor of Inclusion and Diversity, University of Edinburgh Susan Robertson, Professor of Education, University of Cambridge ProfessorTom Schuller, formerly Head of the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation, OECD and Director, National Inquiry into the Future of Lifelong Learning (2008-2010) Rob Smith, Professor of Education, Birmingham City University Linden West, Professor of Education, Canterbury Christ Church University Tom Sperlinger, Professor of Literature and Academic Lead for Engagement for the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, University of Bristol Howard Stevenson, Professor of Education, University of Nottingham Richard Taylor, former Professor and Director of Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning at Cambridge and Leeds Universities Lyn Tett, Professor Emerita of Community Education, University of Huddersfield Professor Maria Slowey, Director, Higher Education Research Centre, Dublin City University Selina Todd, Professor of Modern History, University of Oxford ProfessorSue Webb, former Director of Lifelong Learning, University of Sheffield Volker Wedekind, Professor of Vocational Education, University of Nottingham Miriam Zukas, Professor Emerita and former Executive Dean, Birkbeck, University of London
“The people of Scotland do not need independence. What they do need is full self-government. Responsible autonomy and interdependence. We are capable of self-determination, working together in collaboration with others.”
Distinguished Scottish adult educator and poet Colin Kirkwood uses Paulo Freire’s ideas to reflect on the current state of the Scottish independence debate in Bella Caledonia. Read Colin’s full article here.
Former House of Commons Speaker John Bercow will chair two important Centenary Commission online debates on the theme of Building back bolder: learning for life in post-pandemic Britain. You are warmly invited to join.
On Monday 8th March, 6-7 p.m., the question will be Why does adult education matter now? John Bercow will discuss this question with:
Lord (David) Blunkett, former Secretary of State for Education and Home Secretary
Helen Chicot, Place Integration Lead at Rochdale Borough Council
Dame Helen Ghosh, Chair of the Centenary Commission on Adult Education and Master of Balliol College, Oxford
Selina Todd, Professor of Modern History at Oxford University and author of Snakes and Ladders: The great British social mobility myth
On Wednesday 10th March, 6-7 p.m., the question will be: Has the Government got it wrong on adult education? John Bercow will be in discussion with:
Lord (Karan) Bilimoria, President of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
Robert Halfon, MP, Chair of the House of Commons Education Committee
Sir Alan Tuckett, Vice Chair of the Centenary Commission on Adult Education and former Chief Executive of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education
Baroness (Alison) Wolf, Sir Roy Griffiths Professor of Public Sector Management, King’s College, London and advisor to the Prime Minister on Further Education policy.
In July 2020, with support from the Co-operative College, we held a webinar to encourage the formation of research circles of adult educators. Details are here.
Following this, a research circle has been meeting around the theme “Fostering community, democracy and dialogue”. For further information, contact Sharon Clancy, who is co-ordinating this circle, or one of the Commission joint secretaries.
In April and May 2020, the Centenary Commission held four webinars on the theme “Reconstructing Society for a Sustainable Future: The Need for Adult Education and Lifelong Learning”. These were organised by the Co-operative College, in association with the WEA, Kellogg College, Oxford, the University of Nottingham, the Department for Continuing Education at Oxford University, and the Raymond Williams Foundation.
Speakers included Commissioners Dame Helen Ghosh, Sir Alan Tuckett, Melissa Benn ,Lord Bilimoria, Sharon Clancy, Melissa Highton, Roger McKenzie, Sir Kenneth Olisa, and Cilla Ross, Adult Education 100 campaign Patrons Dame Mary Beard and Ruby Wax, and Simon Parkinson, who had then recently joined the WEA as its new General Secretary.
Details, including recordings of the webinars, are available here.
Call for papers for a Conference at St Hilda’s College, Oxford on Saturday, 14 March 2020 – deadline extended to 3 January 2020. For further details, see Call for Papers.
The West Midlands Combined Authority will have devolved responsibility for Adult Education from 2020. On 5th December 2019 it celebrated 100 years of Adult Education in the East Midlands. Participants included Julie Nugent, Director of Productivity and Skills at the WMCA, Centenary Commission Joint Secretary John Holford, Adult Education 100 campaign patron Mel Lenehan, and adult education students and teachers. For more information, see the WMCA press release below.
