SUMMARY of WEA OFSTED REPORT 2008

The WEA has over 80,000 learners a year of all ages, in every region of

England. It works in hundreds of local communities, including the most

disadvantaged, with a continued commitment to maintaining high quality

learning opportunities for adults at a time when many providers and the general

policy direction is thought to have moved away from community based and part time provision.

The report recognises the high proportion of new learners the

WEA reaches each year and its excellent links with partners to reach priority

target groups successfully. The democratic principles of the WEA continue to

make a significant contribution to the Association’s work in local organising,

regional and national decision making and governance.

WEA General Secretary, Richard Bolsin, said:

‘Everyone who has been working to support the WEA over the last few years

will be delighted by the outcome – even though we entered this inspection with

a sense of confidence. From a management and educational standpoint we’re

very pleased with the result, particularly the fact that it fully supports our own

pre-inspection judgements through self-assessment. I am also greatly

encouraged that this report also recognises the contribution of volunteers as a

strength of the WEA. This is particularly welcome, given that it is our voluntary

movement which makes the WEA unique.’

The report states: ‘Strategic leadership and management of change are strong,

particularly through the general secretary and senior managers. They have

implemented significant structural and cultural changes successfully over the

last four years and led the association through a period of recovery and

development, while retaining its core purpose and values.’

The six key strengths identified in the report are:

• good development of learners’ skills and knowledge;

• strong leadership;

• excellent partnerships;

• good performance management to promote involvement;

• very good responsiveness to community needs;

• the role and contribution of volunteers across the organisation.

The report also states that the WEA has, ‘maintained all of its key strengths

since the previous inspection and rectified most of the weaknesses.’

Provision in Health, Public Services and Care is described as outstanding with

‘very good teaching and learning’, ‘highly flexible and responsive range of

courses’, and ‘very strong partnerships to promote inclusion.’

A wide range of WEA work is commended throughout the report including:

• the WEA’s national Helping in Schools programme;

• a Chester-based project helping to rehabilitate adults with alcohol and drug

dependency;

• a community fitness and health education group in Guru Nanak Gurdwara in

Stoke-On-Trent;

• citizenship courses in Sheffield bringing disparate groups together to find

common ground.

Richard Bolsin
General Secretary

Tel : 020 7426 3455
Fax: 020 7426 3451
Mobile: 07771 807217
Email: rbolsin@wea.org.uk

Workers' Educational Association
Registered office: 70 Clifton Street, London, EC2A 4HB
Website: www.wea.org.uk
Company limited by guarantee registered in England No: 02806910
Registered Charity Number: 1112775