1. 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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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%