Text your news & pics
Text your news or pictures (plus 'SLNEWS' or 'SLPICS') to 80360. click here for details »
• Contact the education team on 020 8329 9210 or email slgeducation@london.newsquest.co.uk
Never too late to learn
2:11pm Tuesday 13th May 2008
ADULT Learners' Week, running from May 17 to 23, is the largest festival of learning in the UK, organised by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE).
As well as encouraging thousands of adults to return to learning, the festival is also a chance to recognise those who have already made a huge effort and achieved their learning goals with the Adult Learners' Week Awards.
This year's awards commend a woman who has gone from GCSE maths level to a first class degree in just six years and a beauty therapist who has undergone a dramatic career change to retrain as a car mechanic.
Adult education is not just about revisting all those conventional curriculum subjects we have to learn at school. There are lots of exciting events happening, including martial arts, digital photography and creative drawing workshops.
Incorporated into the festival is Cultural Diversity Weekend, which features the Dance Off 2008 taking place at more than 100 events across the country.
Rachel Thomson, senior campaigns officer at NIACE, said: "Adult Learners' Week is the perfect time to see the kind of positive impact learning can have on your life.
"The remarkable stories of the inspirational learners we celebrate with our awards illustrate just how learning can completely transform your life for the better."
During Adult Learners' Week, the Test the Town team will be out across the region, helping people to improve their maths and English skills.
Test the Town is part of the Move On campaign, a national skills-boosting initiative, and uses an online test to allow people to assess their current ability, before improving their skills with free courses.
Courses are taking place at colleges, community centres and Leardirect locations, at times which are flexible to suit you.
The Test the Town team will be visiting Bromley town centre on May 20 and Orpington High Street on May 20 and 24, 10am to 2pm.
Dressed up as clowns, they are easy to spot!
Your sayYourShopper
Add your comment
Register for a FREE Surrey Comet account and you can have your say on today's news and sport by adding comments on articles we publish. The best comments may even get published in the paper.
Please register now or sign in below to continue.
The Test the Town clowns are taking to the streets in your area
In this section
- Fenstanton academy protest
- Shawley primary students return to Tudor times
- Students see justice done
- Harvest of healthy kids at Brandlehow Primary
- New talent shines at Rydens School
- Birds of prey visit Seaton House School
- School thanks teen volunteers
- Author visits Burntwood School
- Kingston primary truancy lowest in London
- Teacher anger at Fenstanton Primary academy plan
Sponsored Links
Editor's Choice
Council payout for severely disabled girl
Surrey County Council failures have denied a severely disabled young woman the right to a decent home life, according to the local government ombudsman.
Kitten born without eyelids faces death sentence
A kitten born without eyelids may have to be put down if its owners cannot raise enough money for pioneering treatment.
Tesco unveils Tolworth plans
Tesco has promised to completely remodel Tolworth roundabout and will build a five-storey community centre, if plans to be officially unveiled this weekend get the nod.
Tooting singer looking to impress
A talented musician from Tooting has made it to through to the final of a prestigious songwriting competition which will take place in Balham next week.
£1,000 charity boost from Worcester Park Waitrose
Charities have received a £1,000 cash boost from the Worcester Park branch of Waitrose.
Brothers jailed for murdering dad
Three brothers who murdered a dad in his home after mistaking him for someone else have been sentenced to life imprisonment at the Old Bailey.
Countess of Wessex joins Sandown Park military challenge
The Countess of Wessex has made a guest appearance at Sandown Park, to watch a cookery challenge between the armed forces.
'International' competition for US embassy - as long as you're American
An “international” competition to design the new US Embassy in Battersea will, in reality, only be available to US citizens.
Wonky fruit and veg in shops soon
Wonky fruit and vegetables may soon grace our shelves next to their better looking relatives, after the European Commission scrapped regulations on the appearance of produce.
Wandsworth litter blitz
Litterbugs were given hefty £80 on-the-spot fines, as part of Wandsworth Council's latest crackdown on people who throw rubbish on the street.
Local Services
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
