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Our Curriculum Areas fall underneath 3 sections (that we call 'Educational Strands')

• Second Chance to Learn
• Community Involvement
• Cultural Studies

Second Chance to Learn

Provision in this strand enables learners with few or no educational qualifications to gain nationally recognised qualifications within the National Qualification Framework (NQF) up to Level 2 and 3.

If the programme is non-accredited it should lead directly to a nationally accredited qualification within the NQF either within WEA or with another provider. Examples within this strand include many Skills for Life courses that lead to EDEXCEL qualifications or courses such as NCFE Classroom Assistant Level 1 or 2. There are Second Chance to Learn options in most curriculum areas.

Community Involvement

Courses within the Community Involvement Strand enable people affected by disadvantage to achieve a wide range of learning outcomes such as: - improved confidence, the capacity to take part in community activity, volunteering, or activism in trade unions. There is a focus on the wider benefits of learning for groups and communities as well as for the individual learner.

Examples of courses within this strand include Volunteer Training, Personal Development, Help your Child with Maths, Design a Newsletter, Creative Writing, UNISON Return to Learn and Mentoring Skills. There are community involvement options in most curriculum areas.

Courses can be aimed at particular groups of learners, are usually organised in conjunction with community based partners and can have literacy and numeracy skills embedded if required.

Cultural Studies

Cultural studies courses provide open provision for any adults wanting to engage in serious educational study for its own sake.

The focus is often more academic than leisure - understanding the world through a subject within humanities including history and literature, art and music appreciation, social sciences, natural sciences, international studies, global issues and cultural diversity.

Most of the cultural studies courses fall within the Humanities, Literature, Languages and Social Studies curriculum area. (HLLSS).

Courses are delivered at levels 2, 3 or 4. WEA branches run by voluntary members organise a range of Cultural Studies courses within the Region.