Draft Ofsted report received

Just back from holiday and today we've received the draft report from Ofsted on the inspection of the WEA. We have to check it for factual errors before Monday. The actual report is not published until 29th April so we can't give details here but we should be very pleased with the outcome and, in particular, a vindication of a number of key issues for the WEA: reaching disadvantaged adults, working in partnership, development of voluntary activity and good teaching.

It is vital for the WEA to maintain its distinctive mission and have the standard of its work confirmed by external examination. This Ofsted inspection has done that.

Next week, in Birmingham, the Association Management Team is meeting and will consider the lessons we can draw from this inspection and how they fit into the context of the Government's review of Informal Adult Learning and the LSC's review of the Specialist Designated Institutions.

This report will help our case. We also need to take this opportunity to be clear about what the WEA has to offer over a longer time period than we have recently felt able to consider. The Association's voice is respected and we need to use it to shape the future for adult education in a time of great difficulty.