Adult Learner Research

Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership collates learning research across the county and conducts research projects around specific learning issues.

Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership strives to collate learning research across the county and conducts research projects around specific learning issues. The resources below relate to research conducted between 2000 and the present day

Adult Attitudes to Learning

Surrey Adult Learner Fora Survey 2003 (12 reports)

This qualitative research explores the views of adult learners within the 10 Community Learning Partnerships in Surrey. There is a detailed report for each area, as well as a Surrey-wide report. The topics covered in this report include: learner's motivations to train, barriers to learning, information about learning and training, preferences of learning opportunities, overcoming barriers to learning and personal responses to learning.
There are individual sub-set reports for employees in business with fewer than 50 employees, adults in areas of relative disadvantage, women in part-time employment on low incomes, registered unemployed adults, adults receiving health and social care, young adults aged 19 to 25 years, black and minority ethnic groups, adults living in rural areas and Traveller communities.

1. Adult Learner Fora (ALF) Summary Report
Greg Gardner, 2003

2. Banstead, Epsom & Ewell Report
The Mackinnon Partnership, 2003

3. East Surrey Report
Papworth Research and Consultancy, 2003

4. Elmbridge Report
Greg Gardner, 2003

5. Guildford Report
Papworth Research and Consultancy, 2003

6. Mole Valley Report
Nicholas Stick, 2003

7. Runnymede Report
Anne Evans, 2003

8. Spelthorne Report
Greg Gardner, 2003

9. Surrey Heath Report
Sian Sangarde-Brown, 2003

10. Waverley Report
Papworth Research & Consultancy, 2003

11. Woking Report
Zoe Gardner, 2003

12. Travel to Learn Study 2003
Surrey LSC, 2003

Mapping Adult Learning in Surrey

Lifelong Learning in Surrey (6 reports)

These research reports took a series of perspectives on the way learning was being delivered in Surrey in the first year of the formally constituted Partnership. Together they provide a wide ranging picture of learning provision and what concerns were being felt at that time about areas of need that were not being so well addressed. This was achieved in two of the reports by looking in some detail at two borough areas. In another report oral testimony was taken from members of the Punjabi Community in Woking, members of the Traveller Community and recently arrived Kosovan refugees living in East Surrey. A further report considered issues affecting the widening of participation in learning and what population groups were having particular difficulty accessing learning. The final report examined Surrey's relatively poor performance in Level 3 qualifications in post statutory education.

1. Supply and Demand of Learning in SW Surrey
Glennon, Gregson, Hand, 2000

2. Supply and Demand of Learning in Spelthorne
Craig Dimmock, 2003

3. Widening Participation in Learning
Glennon, Gregson, Hand, 2000

4. Investigation of Relative Underperformance in Level 3 qualifications
Foster & Dimmock,2000

5. Learning Centre Review
BDT Consultancy 2000

6. Lifelong Learning Among Minority Ethnic Groups
Mori, 2003

Addressing Adult Skills Needs

These reports summarise good practice in developing learning in non-traditional areas, such as in the context of a community venues or places of employment. This section is designed to give some assistance to any learning provider who is setting up an innovative project for delivering learning.