News and events

Learners both existing and new joined us to celebrate  Adult Learners’ Week.

Adult Learners’ week is the largest annual festival of learning, which took place between 17 and 23 May 2008.

During this week there was a chance for people to come and see what Spark Adult and Community Learning provides for you in your area.

Events were held around the county in libraries, local learning centres and County Hall. At the open days in Riverside (Leighton Buzzard) and Raleigh House (Bedford) taster sessions were available where you could throw a pot, create beadwork, watch a flower arranging demonstration, learn a few words of a new language, or just learn more about what we do. many entered our free prize draw to win a Nintendo DS brain train Game. If you wish to enter their is still time, contact your local office or freephone number for an entry form.

Riverside Centre open day 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raleigh House open day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The above images show, visitors and staff during the open days and events leld within our centres for adult Learners' week.

Now Open . . . . . .  for Clifton and Shefford . . . . . . a new computer suite

There are eight workstations with broadband internet access providing exciting new learning opportunities for adult learners in the local area.

Information and advice evenings

If you are thinking about learning something new don’t miss out on our information & advice evening. This provides a fantastic opportunity to chat with course tutors, discover further details on courses, visit our main Adult Learning Centres and enrol!!!

• Monday 8 September at John Bunyan Community College Mile Road Bedford
• Tuesday 9 September at Kingsland Skills and Enterprise Centre, Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis
• Wednesday 10 September at The Riverside Centre Bridge Street Leighton Buzzard
• Thursday 11 September at Samuel Whitbread Community College Shefford Road, Clifton

All sessions are provided as drop in sessions so please call in any time between 3.00 pm and 8.00 pm - no appointment is necessary.

ACL Language Tutor wins Award

 

Pauline Wolfenden a language tutor for Bedfordshire Adult & Community Learning, was recently awarded Tutor of the Year 2008, Pauline was voted for by her learners and other tutors within the service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Learner Panel (NLP) is recruiting members for the academic year
2008-2009. 

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Dear learner,

We would like to let you know that the National Learner Panel (NLP) is recruiting members for the academic year 2008-2009. 

What is the National Learner Panel?

The NLP was set up by the Government in 2006 to provide a learner perspective on emerging Further Education policies and initiatives and to put the learner voice at the heart of the policymaking process.  It currently consists of 18 part-time volunteers, aged between 16 and 67, drawn from across all forms of Further Education, from A Levels to apprenticeships, from adult and community learning to work-based learning. 

We are looking to recruit a similar number of learners of all ages, in all different types of Further Education to join the panel for a year from October 2008 and we are looking for learners like you!   

Please see our website| for more information on the panel.

An application form and application notes can also be downloaded from the NLP’s website. This recruitment information will be re-circulated in September, at the beginning of the autumn term. 

We hope to receive your application form very soon! 

Best wishes,
The National Learner Panel Team

Are you a Learner or a Sabbatical Officer in Further Education (FE)?

Do you believe that Government and other organisations could improve their Further Education (FE) policies by listening to the learners who are affected by them?

Are you happy to express your opinions about what works, what doesn’t – and make suggestions to Government ministers and other people who make the decisions?

Are you 16 or over and studying in FE in England? Will you be in any of the following kinds of learning from September 2008 to July 2009? A levels (full or part time), NVQs (up to level 3), an Apprenticeship, Work Based Learning, Informal Adult Learning or Distance Learning.

Then find out more about how to apply to join the National Learner Panel now!

You don’t need to be an expert in how policy or Further Education works – you just have to be an expert in what it’s like to be a learner in FE in England and to bring your experiences with you! We will provide you with the training and support you need to feel confident in your role.

Last autumn, 18 learners of all ages were selected to join the Panel. We are now recruiting a similar number of panel members to take up a place for a year from this October – and would like to hear from learners like you.

Why should I get involved?

Here’s what some of last year’s members had to say about their time on the Panel:

“My experience with the NLP has been positive and inspiring. It has been delightful to make friends and share each other’s stories.” (Kevin Wood, Adult and Community Learner on a part time WEA course)

"I've loved being on the Panel - It's so rewarding to be able to share views with others who are so passionate about education." (James Short, A level student at a Sixth Form College)

“We’re absolutely passionate about promoting the involvement of learners at both a local and national level to improve policy and provision – and hope you are too.” 

(Emma Pearson, Chair of the NLP 2007/8, Apprentice and Work Based Learner)

How do I apply?

Step 1: go to the National Learner panel pages|to find out more about what is involved in being a panel member and download an application form and application notes

Step 2: read through the National Learner Panel Yearbook and decide if this looks like something you’d like to get involved with (you can download the yearbook from the National Learner Panel website link above)

Step 3: read the application notes and then email (or post) your completed application form to ntlcp.info@qia.org.uk|  by Friday 10 October 2008 (postal address in the application notes)

We look forward to hearing from you!