Posted on Wednesday 12th November 2025
Martin Murray, Staffordshire County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills.
More than 6,000 Staffordshire residents have benefited from adult education and skills programmes over the past year.
Staffordshire County Council’s Community Learning service, which helps adults who face barriers to accessing mainstream education, has enabled residents to build their confidence, improve wellbeing and progress towards employment and further learning.
Courses were delivered in over 100 community venues, online and through outreach activities, with a 99% pass rate recorded across both programmes.
The service has made significant progress in reaching underrepresented groups. Sixty-five percent of learners had not engaged in education for more than three years, and half reported having a learning difficulty, disability or long-term mental health condition.
Among those actively seeking work, 40% progressed into employment, further learning or volunteering. Learners also reported wider benefits such as improved confidence, better health and stronger social connections.
Innovation has played a key role in the service’s success. Courses now include critical thinking and AI literacy, helping learners prepare for modern workplaces and stay safe online.
Martin Murray, Staffordshire County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, said:
“Our Community Learning Service continues to make a real difference in people’s lives. These achievements are testament to the dedication of our staff, partners and learners.
“We’re proud to offer inclusive, high-quality learning that helps residents to further their education and progress into employment. I urge any adults with a desire to learn new skills to visit our website and see what courses are available.”
The report will be presented at the county council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on Monday 17 November. The final version will be shared with Ofsted as part of the council’s commitment to continuous improvement.
In 2023, the service was recognised by Ofsted as being a ‘good’ provider of adult learning.
Browse all available Community Learning courses on the county council’s website here.