ETS Working Group Luxembourg 01/02/06 UK National Adult Learning Survey (NALS 2005) Peter Vallely Department for Education and Skills ETS Working Group Luxembourg 01/02/06

General background to UK NALS/AES surveys Previously carried out similar surveys to AES in 1997, 2000, 2001 and 2002. UK didn’t apply for AES funding from EU. This year intend to calibrate NALS measures with AES measures. In future will make survey closer to AES Main report will be NALS compatible, but appendix will be AES compatible. Currently the main adult learning focus in UK is on formal learning for low-skilled people.

Policy needs and dissemination Currently the main adult learning focus in England is on formal learning for low-skilled people. Not decided when AES/NALS will be repeated. Will probably include AES learning activity questions in LFS NALS 2005 will be produced as a book and distributed to providers

NALS 2005 survey Covers England, Wales and Scotland Face to face interviews One person per household Target of 5300 achieved interviews Fieldwork should end in February

Main differences between AES & NALS Three year reference period Only one learning activity selected in NALS but discussed in more detail Different classification of learning categories: taught/non-taught instead of F/NFE/INF but similar prompts Age range 16 + but doesn’t include under 25’s in continuous full time education.

Learning activity NALS Category AES Category Course designed to lead to a qualification Taught Learning Formal Education Course to help you develop skills for work Non-formal Education Course or tuition in personal skills Adult education/evening classes Learning from a package of materials Some other type of course/tuition Supervised on the job training Self-directed learning Keeping up with developments at work by reading books, manuals or journals or by attending seminars. Informal learning Deliberately tried to improve your knowledge about something

Perceived weaknesses in AES Informal learning question will illicit a very high response rate. Have you deliberately tried to teach yourself anything by learning from a family member Have you deliberately tried to teach yourself anything by using printed materials etc Seminars or workshops – should they be collected as a separate category? Three formal and three non-formal activities are too much. Subject of informal learning doesn’t fit very well with the “academic” codes

Interim Findings The average interview length is 45 minutes. The response rate is around 52% The following are provisional findings for a three year reference period for people aged 16+ Formal Education 21% Non-formal Education 49% Informal learning 50% Any Learning 71%