London Learner Survey 2021/22
Ruth Moxon June 2023
The Adult Education Budget (AEB) aims to engage adults and provide the skills and learning they need to equip them for work or other learning. The London Learner Survey (LLS) provides detailed insight into the economic and social outcomes achieved by AEB learners. The survey was run for the first time in the academic year 2021/22, and the survey is currently underway for the academic year 2022/23. This dashboard summarises the key data explored in the London Learner Survey 2021/22 report.
The LLS consists of two linked surveys of people participating in GLA-funded Adult Education Budget (AEB) learning:
A baseline survey administered by learning providers when the learner starts their course. The peak in baseline response happened in the first half of the academic year 2021/22;
A follow-up survey, administered by IFF Research from approximately five to seven months after the end of learning. This enables the LLS to measure outcomes achieved by learners post-AEB courses.
In 2021/22 201,000 learners enrolled in 430,000 aims through the devolved AEB in London. The final data is based on a sample of 6,720 learning aims undertaken by 6,297 learners.
The data reported in this dashboard has been weighted and is representative of learning and learners, however, the results should be interpreted with caution. Firstly, the surveys are a snapshot meaning that learner outcomes may not be well represented on the days the baseline and follow-up surveys took place. Secondly, these results report changes in social and economic outcomes, but these changes cannot be solely attributed to the impact of AEB learning.
Headlines
The LLS surveys learners who have participated in AEB-funded courses in London, using a variety of questions to measure both economic and social outcomes. Overall, the survey found that:
The 2021/22 LLS shows that:
The majority (96%) of learners experienced positive social changes (equivalent to around 180,000 learners). The social impact was across a range of metrics, and we estimate that approximately:
160,000 learners (84%) experienced an increase in their general wellbeing due to their course
170,000 learners (90%) felt more confident due to their course
150,000 learners (79%) met new people due to their course
Over half (52%) of learners (equivalent to around 100,000 learners) experienced positive economic changes five to eight months after completing their course. Additionally, we estimate that approximately:
30,000 (29% of learners out of employment) went into employment
20,000 (33% of employed learners) had an increase in earnings
130,000 (68% of learners) went onto further learning
These findings highlight the potential benefits of AEB-funded courses for learners in London.
Overall
| 52% | 96% |
|
\(\boldsymbol{\cdot}\) They moved
into employment \(\boldsymbol{\cdot}\) They moved
from a temporary job to a permanent job \(\boldsymbol{\cdot}\) Their pay
increased \(\boldsymbol{\cdot}\) They
continued onto further training at a higher NVQ level |
\(\boldsymbol{\cdot}\) They reported
the course had a positive impact on their wellbeing \(\boldsymbol{\cdot}\) They reported
the course made them more confident; or |
*Retired learners have been excluded as they are not expected to experience an economic change following AEB participation.
Adult Skills
| 54% | 96% |
|
\(\boldsymbol{\cdot}\) They moved
into employment \(\boldsymbol{\cdot}\) They moved
from a temporary job to a permanent job \(\boldsymbol{\cdot}\) Their pay
increased \(\boldsymbol{\cdot}\) They
continued onto further training at a higher NVQ level |
\(\boldsymbol{\cdot}\) They reported
the course had a positive impact on their wellbeing \(\boldsymbol{\cdot}\) They reported
the course made them more confident; or |
*Retired learners have been excluded as they are not expected to
experience an economic change following AEB participation.
Note: In 2021/22, around 150,000 learners started a qualification in
Adult Skills (a small proportion of these learners also did a
qualification in Community Learning).
Community Learning
| 46% | 96% |
|
\(\boldsymbol{\cdot}\) They moved
into employment \(\boldsymbol{\cdot}\) They moved
from a temporary job to a permanent job \(\boldsymbol{\cdot}\) Their pay
increased \(\boldsymbol{\cdot}\) They
continued onto further training at a higher NVQ level |
\(\boldsymbol{\cdot}\) They reported
the course had a positive impact on their wellbeing \(\boldsymbol{\cdot}\) They reported
the course made them more confident; or |
*Retired learners have been excluded as they are not expected to experience an economic change following AEB participation. Note: In 2021/22, around 65,000 learners started a learning aim in Community Learning (a small proportion of these learners also did a qualification in Adult Skills).
Economic Outcomes
Progression into employment
For the majority of learners (67%) their economic activity status (whether they were employed, unemployed, inactive or a student) did not change. Of those whose economic activity status changed, almost half moved into employment. 3 in 10 learners out of work in the baseline, moved into employment in the follow-up. Learners doing a Community Learning course were less likely to have a change in economic activity status, which is likely to be due to the older age profile of community learning, and the higher share of learners who are retired.
Overall
Adult Skills
Community Learning
Progression within work
Using economic modelling, the survey responses can be modelled to create a 95% confidence interval of mean average earnings for learners. Overall, nominal average earnings increased by 10% between the baseline and follow-up surveys. This increase is partly explained by an increase in hours worked from 28.8 to 30.4 hours per week. 21% of those earning below the London Living Wage (£11.05 per hour in 2021/22) in the baseline were earning above it in the follow-up. Participants in Adult Skills who reported their earnings on average have comparatively lower earnings and hours worked than learners doing Community Learning.
Overall
|
Baseline |
Follow-up |
Change |
|
| Mean Earnings: | £21,600-£22,900 | £23,700-£25,100 | 10% |
| Mean Hours: | 28.8 | 30.4 | 5% |
Adult Skills
|
Baseline |
Follow-up |
Change |
|
| Mean Earnings: | £15,800-£16,900 | £17,700-£18,800 | 12% |
| Mean Hours: | 27.7 | 29.6 | 7% |
Community Learning
|
Baseline |
Follow-up |
Change |
|
| Mean Earnings: | £32,300-£35,800 | £33,350-£36,700 | 3% |
| Mean Hours: | 31.2 | 32.0 | 3% |
Progression into further learning
As well as improving employment outcomes, the AEB is also a stepping-stone to further and higher learning. The LLS found that this was the case for a substantial proportion of learners; 68% of learners had started or were going to start more study or training. 40% of this learning was above the level of the previous learning aim the learner studied in the AEB. The survey found the majority of further learning was taking place in FE colleges/institutions, but a significant number of learners went on to study at a HE institution or start an apprenticeship. For Adult Skills learners, 47% of further learning was at a higher NVQ level, whereas those studying Community Learning tended to continue on courses which didn’t lead to formal qualifications.
Overall
Comparative level of learning for those undertaking further learning
Adult Skills
Comparative level of learning for those undertaking further learning
Community Learning
Comparative level of learning for those undertaking further learning
More information
View our full 2021/22 report on the London Learner Survey.
View the technical methodology on how IFF conducted the survey.
For the latest data on the Adult Education Budget in London see our data releases for 2021/22 and for the first half of the academic year 2022/23.
For enquiries / feedback, please contact us at:
Email: aeb@london.gov.uk
Social Outcomes
The LLS also collects data on social outcomes which are currently missing from other educational outcome datasets. This allows a more holistic understanding of how the AEB is impacting learners.
Health and wellbeing
The survey asked an initial question on the extent to which the course impacted the learner’s wellbeing. The responses to this were overwhelmingly positive; 84% of courses had a positive impact.
What impact, if any, has the course had on your general wellbeing? Has it had…
Overall
Adult Skills
Community Learning
Following methodology from the ONS, the LLS has 4 measures of wellbeing: life satisfaction, worthwhileness, happiness and anxiety, which learners self-report on a 0 to 10 scale. For each measure, on average there has been an improvement between the baseline and follow-up survey.
Overall
Adult Skills
Community Learning
Improved self-efficacy
Self-efficacy is a person’s belief in their ability to succeed in different situations and challenges. Self-efficacy ensures once learners gain skills they can be confident in applying them to their work and wider areas of life. AEB courses are helping learners to grow in confidence: 90% of respondents reported an increase in their confidence as a result of the course.
Has the course helped you to feel more confident?
Overall
Adult Skills
Community Learning
Additionally, learners have shown an increase in their levels of self-efficacy across a range of indicators. The share of learners who believe they can find a way to get what they want if someone does not agree with them has increased from 70% to 75% and the share of learners who believe it is easy for them to reach their goals has increased from 81% to 85%.
Overall
Adult Skills
Community Learning
Improved social integration
Improving London’s social integration is one of the Mayor’s top priorities and it means:
• Helping Londoners to build meaningful and lasting relationships with each other
• Supporting them to be active in their communities and to play a part in the decisions that affect them
• Reducing barriers and inequalities, so that Londoners can relate to each other as equals
The AEB can play an important role in social integration in London due to the diversity of Londoners it brings together in one place. In fact, 79% of AEB courses helped learners to meet new people, despite only 30% of learners citing this as one of the reasons for enrolling in their course.
To what extent do you agree or disagree that the course has helped you to meet lots of different people?
Overall
Adult Skills
Community Learning
Participation in volunteering
Volunteering plays a crucial role for communities across London and unites Londoners from different backgrounds. Between the baseline and follow-up surveys, there isn’t an increase in the share participating in volunteering, but there is a small shift in more learners doing formal rather than informal volunteering in the follow-up. Additionally, for those who are volunteering, they appear to be doing slightly more frequently in the follow-up than the baseline.
Overall
Adult Skills
Community Learning