At the moment we hear a lot about differentiation and 'firstness' in education policy. In some ways 'firstness' is just a new word for widening participation - although one which may well be used to ration access to funding for education for adults.
However, these two quotes from RH Tawney indicate that the WEA has considered these issues important for a very long time.
In 1931 Tawney said:
"Equality of provision is not identity of provision. It is to be achieved not by treating different needs in the same way, but by devoting equal care to ensuring they are met in the different ways most appropriate to them"
In terms of reaching out to disadvantaged adults he said:
"Our business is not to organise classes for those whom, in the circumstances of today, it may, for one reason or another, be easiest to attract. It is to create a demand for education in individuals and bodies who at the moment may be unconscious of its importance to them but who, if a tolerable society is to be created, must be won to believe it".
Does the WEA do that in 2008? I think it does. John Bolt, the architect of the new LSC funding methodology this week explained that one part of the LSC's 'demand led ' calculator looks at the level of provision for adults living in the most disdvantaged neighbourhoods in England (the Index of Multiple Deprivation). It shows the WEA as working with adults from those areas to a far greater degree than the FE average across England and this is reflected in our new FE Provider Factor.
We know who picks the 'low hanging fruit' and it isn't the WEA!
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