Our Adult Participation in Learning survey is the longest running and most frequently occurring study of adult learning in the UK. It adopts a broad definition of learning, including formal, non-formal and informal learning, rather than just publicly offered educational opportunities for adults.
Each survey, 5,000 adults aged 17 and over are asked about:
The survey, which began in 1996, provides a unique overview of the level of participation in learning by adults, with a detailed breakdown of participants and non-participants over a span of more than 20 years.
Our surveys consistently show that participation in learning is determined by social class, employment status, age and prior learning.
Explore trend data from the past 20 years in our interactive charts. The data can be broken down by demographics, learning status and other useful variables.