Adult education in Bromley borough faces overhaul as council battles to save £60m

Everything from language classes to floristry courses could be axed as the council considers whether to radically restructure and reduce the service or withdraw it altogether.

Bromley Adult Education College, which has around 7,000 students on its books and 340 staff, is spread across three sites in Bromley, Orpington and Penge.

West Wickham resident Ann Frewer has been studying art at The Widmore Centre in Nightingale Lane for many years.

The 78-year-old, of The Crescent, released an autobiography of paintings in 2010 with help from college teaching staff.

Ann Frewer with her book, Life: The greatest privilege

The retired nurse told News Shopper: "For years, I have been studying art and if it hadn’t been for them I wouldn’t have had my book published.

"We are all concerned. It’s like a shining beacon - a light into the darkness."

Ms Frewer fears she will be stuck at home with nothing to do if her classes are cancelled.

She said: "It will be tragic. A lot of people do want to keep on learning. It’s been marvellous up to now."

Portfolio holder for education Councillor Stephen Wells has recommended the council’s executive agrees to begin consulting with staff and students over a restructure.

Employees risk redundancy and all teaching would be delivered at The Widmore Centre in Bromley, under the proposals.

Alternative uses would be found for the Penge and Orpington sites leaving the north of the borough without any adult education services.

The Poverest Centre, Poverest Road in Orpington

The council says it must review the service due to central government cuts to further education funding.

Help for the unemployed and adults with learning disabilities would be significantly reduced.

And qualification-based courses would be scrapped along with maths and English courses for adults with low literacy and numeracy skills.

If a scale back is not possible, the remaining option is to close the service altogether.

A council spokesman said: "Central government funding for further education has seen reductions over the last four years with an expectation the trend will continue into 2015/16.

"Bromley’s Adult Education Service is projecting a budget overspend of between £264k and £220k for this financial year.

"Whilst continuing to be committed to lifelong learning, the Council has to look at ways to prevent or minimise the overspend." 

The proposed options will go before the Education Policy Development and Scrutiny (PDS) Committee at 7pm this evening at Bromley Civic Centre.

Councillors will be asked for their views and there will be a consultation process prior to any firm decisions being taken.

The council is attempting to save more than £60 million over the next four years from an annual net budget of just over £200 million.