Places to learn
School, college and university are not the only places to learn. Today there are many more options including, at home, in the local library or the local community centre. Below are some ideas of what is available.
Community and Family Learning
Communitiy and Family Learning offer a wide variety of part-time classes during the day or evening for those who want to study close to home. Courses can include leisure, self-development, qualifications, basic literacy and numeracy.
Adult Residential Colleges
These provide weekend or out-of-term courses. They may include leisure and self-development. These courses are often short-term, e.g. Saturday morning through to Sunday afternoon, with residential facilities.
Colleges
Colleges may also be known as Technical Colleges and Colleges of Technology. They offer a wide range of courses on a full-time or part-time basis or via open learning. Courses may be vocational or lead to qualifications or be Return to Learn courses.
Universities
Universities provide courses leading to degrees, Higher National Diplomas/Certificates and other courses beyond A Levels. The courses may be full-time, part-time or via distance learning. For further information on Higher Education click here
Open Learning
This is provided through open access centres or learning shops, often on a drop-in basis. They offer learning packages on a wide range of subjects.
Distance Learning
Similar to open learning, but where you do not go into the centre/learning shop. Support is offered over the telephone, one-to-one tutorials and via the Internet.
Workers Educational Associations
This is the largest voluntary provider of adult education in the UK. They cover a wide range of educational opportunities and many take place locally.
Learning in the Workplace
These are training opportunities either in the workplace or via distance learning or externally at training centres, colleges, etc.
Training Providers
Training Provides offer a range of courses. These may be offered on a classroom basis or via distance learning.
learndirect
learndirect offers hundreds of online courses in computers, office skills and self development, designed so that you can learn at a time, place and pace to suit your needs.
UK Online Centres
UK Online Centres are based across the country. They offer short-term courses on IT and IT-related subjects. For further information on UK Online Courses visit www.dfes.gov.uk/ukonlinecentres
