Editorial Comment:

Focus of Study

The report contains the findings of the SCPR ‘Survey of Individual Attitudes to Lifetime Learning’, which sought to increase understanding of different attitudes towards learning, to identify barriers to learning, and to examine the impact which the removal of these barriers would have upon take up of learning. The research included a range of questions about awareness of sources of information/advice, about experience of advice/guidance services. The survey was based on 1403 interviews with respondents aged between 16 and 54, with a net response rate of some 67%. The larger age groups in the sample were as follows: 14%, 25-29; 26%, 30-39; 27%, 40-49.

Key findings

Overall, respondents initially displayed very low levels of awareness of sources of information about learning. After prompting, Colleges of Further Education were recognised by as a potential source by 63%, and Jobcentres by 67%, of respondents. Similarly few were aware of the various financial incentives for particular forms of learning (e.g. only 31% of learners, and 19% of learners recognised the term 'Career Development Loan', though 42% recognised the existence of such loans once the principle was explained). Over four in ten (43%) of respondents felt there was not enough information available about different sorts of learning that people can do (Learners agreed more than non-learners - 49% and 39% respectively). Respondents indicated that learning that was self-funded was less likely to be easier to find out about than that funded by employers (84% and 91% respectively). 86% indicated that they found the information they received very or fairly useful. A quarter of learning episodes was preceded by advice and guidance from someone specially trained in the area. This was more likely to apply in the case of respondents not in work, and for learning that lasted over a year. It was less likely in the case of professional and managerial workers. In over nine in every ten cases (94%), the specialist advice was seen as being useful. Only a third (34%) of completed learning episodes, was followed by the respondent receiving advice or guidance on how to use learning in the future. One in five of learners were followed up by advice obtained from the respondent’s employer, and one in twelve from other sources.

Additional comment

Over 51% of those respondents who had completed full-time education stated that it was unlikely that they would do any vocational learning in the next two or three years. 73% of likely future learners were either learning at the time of learning, or had done some vocational learning in the three years prior to the interview. The potential role of enhanced information, advice and guidance services (including addressing perceived barriers such as cost) in addressing this issue was not explored by the research.