Adult Skills Fund Academic Year
2024/25 (August-January)
Ruth Moxon May 2025
From 1 August 2019, the Secretary of State for Education delegated responsibility for the commissioning, delivery and management of London’s Adult Education Budget (AEB) to the Mayor. In August 2024, the AEB changed to the Adult Skills Fund (ASF), this is the first data release for London under the new ASF. As a result, it is not possible to directly compare this year’s data with participation and enrolment to previous years under the AEB.
More information on the ASF can be found on london.gov.uk
The ASF data publication contains summary statistics on further education and skills in London, covering a range of data on learner participation and enrolment, including Mayoral areas of interest. This release is based on data for the first half of the academic year (August 2024 to January 2025).
In February 2025, the Mayor of London and London Councils published the London Growth Plan. This ambitious plan for growth in London is underpinned by the development and delivery of a forthcoming Inclusive Talent Strategy for the city. The ASF will play a key role in delivering the London Growth Plan and Inclusive Talent Strategy, through helping disadvantaged Londoners into good jobs. In particular it will help:
Address skills gaps in London’s priority sectors through tailored curriculums and employment support;
Support individuals to progress into work or higher levels of study;
Disadvantaged Londoners gain essential skills and have a clear progression pathway.
This publication shows how the ASF prior to the growth plan was supporting growth through skills training, as a baseline that can be used for future comparisons.
This interactive report shows the key trends in the data. For further exploration and to create bespoke charts and tables see the ASF Data Publication Dashboard and Data Tables
Key Points
Methodology
Figures include learners and learning that is active at any point during the publication period.
Aims enrolments is the count of the relevant learning aims reported in the Individualised Learner Record (ILR). Learners may be enrolled in more than one learning aim.
Learner participation is the count of unique learners who meet the breakdown shown in a table or chart. Therefore, a single learner may be counted more than once in a learner participation chart or table and breakdowns may not sum to the total count of unique learners. For example, a learner taking multiple aims will be reported for every level and subject they are participating in.
For more information see the methodology information.
Headline changes
There were 156,240 adult learners participating in ASF programmes in the first two quarters of academic year 2024/25. Due to the change from the AEB to ASF learner participation is not directly comparable with previous years. However, the in year data suggests a small decline (2%) in learner participation in 2024/25 compared to the same period in 2023/24.
There were 279,080 aims taken over the course of the first two quarters of 2024/25 academic year. Learners can take more than one aim during the academic year (on average each learner undertakes around 2 aims).
Similarly, there was a marginal decline (4%) in ASF aim enrolments in the first two quarters of 2024/25 compared to AEB enrolments in the same period in 2023/24.
Two factors play a key role in understanding the decline in enrolments. Firstly, overtime the AEB/ASF has had an increase in the number of enrolments at Level 3 and above. These are longer and more expensive qualifications so comparatively fewer aims can be provided. Secondly, providers in London have been facing increasing cost pressures that limits the amount of aims they can deliver.
Learner Participation
R06 August - January ILR data, 2019/20-2024/25
Aim Enrolments
R06 August - January ILR data, 2019/20-2024/25
Learner Participation
Adult Skills Core had 111,200 learners participating in the first two quarters of 2024/25, compared to Tailored Learning that had 55,570 learners.
The majority (82%) of Tailored Learning participation were courses at Other Level. For Adult Skills Core the highest share of participation is in Entry Level courses (44%), but increased flexibility in London’s ASF means that there were 440 learners participating in courses at Level 4 or above.
Aim Enrolments
Adult Skills Core had 189,920 aim enrolments in the first two quarters of 2024/25, compared to Tailored Learning that had 89,160 enrolments. Since devolution, there has been an increase in provision of Level 3 qualifications (partially due to Free Courses for Jobs). The first two quarters of 2024/25 shows that there were 12,960 aim enrolments at Level 3 (representing 5% of all ASF enrolments).
Overall, the distribution of aim enrolments by level and by funding model shows a similar pattern to learner participation.
Subject Studied (SSA)
Half (52%) of all ASF aims enrolments correspond to Preparation for Life and Work courses (the vast majority is funded via Adult Skills Core). Preparation for life and work prepares learners for employment and provides Maths and English skills. It also helps the learners outside of work by teaching skills for independence and personal development.
Aside from Preparation for Life and Work, the top subjects studied in Adult Skills Core were in the area of Health, Public Services and Care (10%) and Information and Communication (6%). Additionally, around one third (30%) of ASF provision is in subjected related to London’s priority sectors (Health, Construction, Digital, Creative and Hospitality).
Tailored Learning does not have a sector subject area reported by the DfE. However, the GLA has mapped Tailored Learning aims to sector subject areas, to allow greater understanding of provision in London. For more information see the methodology information. Based on this the highest share of Tailored Learning enrolments is in the subject sector area Arts, Media and Publishing.
All ASF
R06 August - January ILR data 2024/25.
Note: Subjects are based on
the Sector Subject Areas tier one.
Adult Skills Core
R06 August - January ILR data 2024/25.
Note: Subjects are based on
the Sector Subject Areas tier one.
Tailored Learning
R06 August - January ILR data 2024/25.
Note: Subjects are based on
the Sector Subject Areas tier one.
Learner location
The London ASF supports Londoners across London: all of the Sub-Regional Partnerships and London Boroughs showed significant activity in the first two quarters of 2024/25.
The top 5 London Boroughs with the highest number of learners were Newham (8,720), Croydon (7,380), Brent (7,110), Tower Hamlet (7,060) and Southwark (6,840). However, differences in participation by borough can partially be explained by variations in working-age population. When adjusting for the 19-64 population the highest participation rate was Haringey (35.8), Newham (35.3), Lewisham (33.5), Brent (31.6) and Islington (31.6).
Central London Forward had marginally higher participation per 1,000 19-64 population (28.7) compared to the other Sub-Regional partnerships whose participation rate was between 25.5 to 26.1.
All ASF
Source: R06 August - January 2024/25 ILR data.
Contains Ordnance
Survey data Crown copyright and database rights [2015].
Note:
underlying data are based on the learner’s home postcode on the learning
start date and excludes records without a valid postcode.
ONS
Mid-year Population Estimate by local authority 2023 (19-64 population).
Note that around 91% of learners in the ASF are aged between 19-64
Sub-regional partnership
| Measure | Central London Forward | Local London | South London Partnership | West London Alliance |
| Learner Participation | 59,970 | 42,000 | 19,120 | 35,410 |
| Participation per 1,000 19-64 population | 28.7 | 25.5 | 26.1 | 25.6 |
| Aims Enrolments | 106,310 | 75,670 | 31,630 | 65,010 |
Adult Skills Core
Source: R06 August - January 2024/25 ILR data.
Contains Ordnance
Survey data Crown copyright and database rights [2015].
Note:
underlying data are based on the learner’s home postcode on the learning
start date and excludes records without a valid postcode.
ONS
Mid-year Population Estimate by local authority 2023 (19-64 population).
Note that around 91% of learners in the ASF are aged between 19-64
Sub-regional partnership
| Measure | Central London Forward | Local London | South London Partnership | West London Alliance |
| Learner Participation | 37,760 | 32,940 | 13,660 | 27,050 |
| Participation per 1,000 19-64 population | 18.1 | 20.0 | 18.6 | 19.6 |
| Aims Enrolments | 65,190 | 55,750 | 22,100 | 46,540 |
Tailored Learning
Source: R06 August - January 2024/25 ILR data.
Contains Ordnance
Survey data Crown copyright and database rights [2015].
Note:
underlying data are based on the learner’s home postcode on the learning
start date and excludes records without a valid postcode.
ONS
Mid-year Population Estimate by local authority 2023 (19-64 population).
Note that around 91% of learners in the ASF are aged between 19-64
Sub-regional partnership
| Measure | Central London Forward | Local London | South London Partnership | West London Alliance |
| Learner Participation | 25,740 | 12,810 | 6,260 | 10,800 |
| Participation per 1,000 19-64 population | 12.3 | 7.8 | 8.5 | 7.8 |
| Aims Enrolments | 41,120 | 19,920 | 9,530 | 18,470 |
Learner demographics
The ASF helps Londoners who face difficulties in the labour market: 69% of learners were women, 63% were from a Black, Asian or Minority ethnic background and 16% had a disability or learning difficulty.
For women and learners from a Black, Asian or Minority ethnic background, they are particularly over represented compared to the rest of London’s population. The 2021 Census showed that 52% of 19-64 Londoners were female and 45% were from a Black, Asian or Minority ethnic background.
The proportion of learners with a disability or learning difficulty is similar (16% vs 18%) to the proportion of 19-64 year old Londoners who are either Equality Act Disabled or have a long-term physical or mental health condition (based on the 2021 Census).
There are some notable differences by Funding Model in terms of Ethnicity and Age. Compared to Tailored Learning, Adult Skills Core engaged a higher proportion of learners from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic backgrounds and younger learners.
All ASF
R06 August - January ILR data 2024/25.
Note: Age is based on
learner’s age on 31st August of the academic year.
LLDD stands for
learning difficulty and/or disability and/or health problem. Learning
difficulty and/or disability and/or health problem is based on
self-declaration by the learner.
The percentage calculation for the
Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and White learners here are based on
excluding instances of unknown ethnicity.
The percentage calculation
for LLDD learners here are based on excluding instances of unknown LLDD
status.
Adult Skills Core
R06 August - January ILR data 2024/25.
Note: Age is based on
learner’s age on 31st August of the academic year.
LLDD stands for
learning difficulty and/or disability and/or health problem. Learning
difficulty and/or disability and/or health problem is based on
self-declaration by the learner.
The percentage calculation for the
Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and White learners here are based on
excluding instances of unknown ethnicity.
The percentage calculation
for LLDD learners here are based on excluding instances of unknown LLDD
status.
Tailored Learning
R06 August - January ILR data 2024/25.
Note: Age is based on
learner’s age on 31st August of the academic year.
LLDD stands for
learning difficulty and/or disability and/or health problem. Learning
difficulty and/or disability and/or health problem is based on
self-declaration by the learner.
The percentage calculation for the
Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and White learners here are based on
excluding instances of unknown ethnicity.
The percentage calculation
for LLDD learners here are based on excluding instances of unknown LLDD
status.
Entitlements
Basics skills are essential in enabling people to function in society and progress in learning and employment. Therefore, the legal entitlements play a key role amongst eligible adult learners taking English and Maths, Digital and Level 2 and Level 3 learning.
The largest entitlements, as measured by enrolments, are Maths (12,780) and English (12,550).
R06 August - January ILR data 2024/25.
Note: Entitlement learning is
learning taken as part of the legal entitlements to full funding for
eligible adult learners for English and Maths, Digital and Level 2 and
Level 3 learning.Levels are based on the notional NVQ level version two.
ASF Flexibilities
The ASF Flexibilities allow adult learning in London to be tailored to the needs of Londoners.
In the first two quarters of 2024/25 the largest flexibility in terms of both participation and enrolments was Learners in Receipt of Low Wage. This flexibility provides full funding for those who are earning below the London Living Wage.
R06 August - January ILR data 2024/25.
Free Courses for Jobs
Free Courses for Jobs provides Level 3 qualifications to help adults reskill and upskill, improving their employment prospects. The GLA fully fund learners that meet the eligibility criteria as described in the funding rules.
In the first half of academic year 2024/25, there were 7,660 FCFJs enrolments, equivalent to 59% of all level 3 course in the ASF. Additionally, based on the mid-year data over the last three years FCFJ enrolments have increased nearly three-fold. Therefore, the expansion of FCFJ has contributed to the shift in ASF provision towards Level 3 qualifications.
| 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | |
| Learner Participation | 2,610 | 4,830 | 4,940 | 7,480 |
| Aims Enrolments | 2,630 | 4,910 | 4,970 | 7,660 |
| Achievement | 70 | 560 | 430 | 1,430 |
Souce: R06 August - January ILR data, 2021/22-2024/25
Conclusion
Prior to the publication of the growth plan, the ASF was already helping to promote economic growth in London. If we look at three overarching aims of the ASF in London:
Addressing skills gaps in London’s priority sectors through tailored curriculums and employment support:
Around one third (30%) of provision is in subjects related to London’s priority sectors (Health, Construction, Digital, Creative and Hospitality).
Supporting individuals to progress into work or higher levels of study:
7,480 learners participated in Free Courses for Jobs.
Preparation for Life and Work (52%) was highest share of provision in the ASF in the first two quarters of 2024/25.
Helping disadvantaged Londoners gain essential skills and have a clear progression pathway:
69% of learners were women, 63% were from a Black, Asian or Minority ethnic background and 16% had a disability or learning difficulty.
92,760 enrolments were in Entry level qualifications.
Further implications of the ASF on the growth plan and Inclusive Talent Strategy (forthcoming) can be seen in additional breakdowns of ASF further education statistics, which can be found online on the London datastore. These include for instance, breakdowns by funding model, level of learning and background characteristics, and detailed figures by Sector Subject Area (Tier 1 and Tier 2). These can be explored using the ASF data dashboard.
Additionally, the final year data for academic year 2024/25 will give a more comprehensive picture of provision in London and will be available in December 2025.
To better understand how the ASF supports the London Growth Plan, analysis of outcomes (as well as participation and enrolments is needed). The outcomes of the GLA’s ASF are monitored through the London Learner Survey (LLS). Through the London Learner Survey (LLS), the GLA are measuring how learners’ lives change after they complete their learning, whether that is, for instance, improvements in their health and wellbeing, progression in work or learning or entering new employment.
Results for the 2023/24 London Learner Survey will be published in the summer of 2025. The results from the previous academic year (2022/23) and methodological information can be accessed on the datastore: London Learner Survey
More information
More information about the Adult Skills Fund can be found on the London.Gov website.
For information on apprenticeships in London (which are not part of the ASF or devolved), see Apprenticeship Statistics for London
All media enquiries should be emailed to the Mayor’s Press Office, and we will respond as quickly as possible.
For urgent media enquiries outside office hours and at weekends please call: 020 7983 4000 and ask for the duty press officer.
Other enquiries should be emailed to Ruth Moxon.