Decision details

At the full Council meeting in July 2014 Councillor Jan Prendergast presented a petition on behalf of students of WAES, collectively asking the Council to reconsider the planned closure of these certain classes from September 2014.

This requires a formal Cabinet Member Report to the Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration, Business and Economic Development, who is responsible for the Westminster Adult Education Service as part of his portfolio, to consider the matter and approve a response to the petition.

(1)   That it be noted that WAES has had a reduction in funding and can no longer offer all of the classes that were provided during the last academic year;

(2)   That it be agreed that, in light of (1) above, public funding from the SFA for adult skills courses must be focussed on delivering qualification bearing skills training for the workplace, rather than leisure classes; and

(3)   That, in light of (1) and (2) above, it be agreed that the decision taken by WAES to cease running the specified art classes, as detailed in the petition, be upheld and this decision be provided to the petition organiser as the Council’s formal response.

Reasons for Decision 

The decision taken by WAES to cease running some of the Art classes was as a direct result of:

·           the reduction in public funding nationally for adult learning and locally to  WAES and

·           the requirement to use the public funding from the SFA for qualification bearing adult skills programmes to provide education and training to develop skills for the workplace. The classes listed in the petition do not meet this requirement.

As a direct result of these two changes, WAES will no longer have sufficient funding to maintain all of its publicly funded and subsidised courses, whilst at the same time some of the existing programmes will need to convert to qualification bearing courses such as BTEC awards, certificates and diplomas. The new BTEC programmes at level 1 and 2 will provide courses that will incorporate a cluster of subject specific areas, for example a Level 1 Award in Drawing incorporates Life Drawing, Landscape, Still Life and Portraiture using a variety of techniques and mediums. Learners following this programme will develop a range of skills in this area and will then be able to progress to the Level 2 Certificate in Painting and Drawing or Printmaking. These courses are available to all adult learners.