Face of adult education set to change
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
18/04/2008
Macbeth Centre set for revamp
Exciting proposals to start developing a flagship, state-of-the-art adult education centre in Hammersmith are set to be approved by the Cabinet next week (Monday 28 April).
The face of adult education in west London could be set to change forever if H&F Council’s plans to invest in the Macbeth Centre, on Macbeth Street, are approved. By pumping £200,000 into the centre, the council will be able to offer a larger range of services to adults, including teacher training, childcare, computing and lessons in language, literacy and numeracy. If agreed by Cabinet, the new centre could be up and running be open by September and aims to be a beacon of adult learning in west London.
Cllr Antony Lillis, Cabinet Member for Community and Children’s Services, said: “This is another example of the council improving the quality of our services while driving down unnecessary costs. We’re committed to offering first class adult education to residents and hope to provide a vast array of services from under one roof at a new flagship centre at Macbeth. We have conducted a full review of our adult education offer and believe that we can provide a better service from fewer buildings, providing tax payers with a better deal.”
As part of the proposal, the Dawes Adult Education Centre on Dawes Road, Fulham, will be sold as it does not allow for adaption due to the size and nature of the building and therefore cannot offer state of the art provision that the council wants to provide. All services at the Dawes Centre will be moved to Macbeth and other local community venues. This sale will allow the council to reinvest at least £200,000 into the refurbishment of the Macbeth Centre. In the coming year there are plans to secure further funding to make even greater improvements to the new enlarged Macbeth Centre. The Learning and Skills Council, the funding body for adult education, has already voiced its support for the council’s proposals.
The adult education service in H&F is presently going through a period of change in response to new local and national priorities in learning and skills. Its key business will now focus on employability, entry and re-entry to education and personal and community development.
The service will continue to look to work in partnership with other community facilities across the borough and new classes have already being arranged to be held at Fulham Library, Normancroft Community Centre and Fulham Cross School.
Adult education courses are also provided at the Sands End Community Centre, Masbro Community Centre and a growing number of school, library and community venues.
