A white paper on skills is due out soon, which, according to a Feb 11 Guardian article that I've only just seen, will offer all adults free teaching towards 'level two standard'.

We must wait for the details, but it seems that here is a chance to offer teaching in Classical subjects to a new audience. Classical Civilisation would be an attractive option, with Latin in the wings for the large number of adults who cherish a secret wish to make up for a lack in their schooling.

Let's be on the ball as soon as it becomes clear what the arrangements are to be.

Here's part of the article

Adults offered more free education

Anna Bawden
Friday February 11, 2005

All adults will be able to study for the equivalent of five GCSEs free of charge, the education minister Ivan Lewis has revealed.

Writing in a pamphlet published by the Social Market Foundation thinktank, Mr Lewis unveiled the policy of fully funded, flexible opportunities for every adult to learn up to level two standard (the equivalent of five GCSEs at grades A-star to C).

"Every adult will be entitled to free tuition for a first level two qualification," he wrote, a standard that "is increasingly seen as the base level for successful participation in the labour market".

With the exception of literacy and numeracy, adults currently have to meet the cost of studying these courses themselves.

The policy has been trialled since September 2004 in the north east and south east. Details of how the programme will be rolled out nationally will be contained in the government's skills white paper, expected to be published in the next few weeks. The aim is to reduce by 40% the number of adults in the workforce who lack level two qualifications by 2010. "Evidence shows that employers are much more likely to invest in training for staff who already have level two skills, and that such staff are also more likely to seek or continue training on their own initiative," Mr Lewis explained.

The whole article is here: http://education.guardian.co.uk/further/story/0,5500,1411031,00.html