Adult Learning and Continuing Education
Courses and learning opportunities for adults across the Solent
Adult learning opportunities across the Solent region range from formal qualifications at further education colleges to community courses, evening classes, and online learning. Whether the aim is career development, a new skill, or personal enrichment, there are options available in most of the main towns.
Fareham College is one of the principal providers of adult learning in the area. The college offers a wide range of courses for adults, including GCSEs and A-levels for those who want to gain or improve their qualifications, vocational courses in areas such as health and social care, construction, and information technology, and leisure courses in subjects from photography to cookery. The college also runs apprenticeship programmes in partnership with local employers. Its campus on Bishopsfield Road in Fareham is accessible by bus and has car parking. For local education news, see fareham.news.
Highbury College in Portsmouth provides similar opportunities on the eastern side of the region, with courses aimed at adults returning to education, those seeking new qualifications, and people wanting to develop skills for employment. The college has invested in facilities for engineering, construction, and creative industries, reflecting the employment opportunities in the wider Portsmouth area.
The Workers' Educational Association (WEA) runs community-based courses across Hampshire, including in the Solent area. These are typically part-time courses held in community centres, libraries, and village halls, covering subjects such as local history, creative writing, languages, and art appreciation. WEA courses are open to all and are particularly popular with retirees and those seeking intellectual stimulation and social connection.
Hampshire County Council's adult learning service offers courses across the county, with venues in Fareham, Gosport, and other Solent towns. The service focuses on English and maths for adults who need to improve their basic skills, English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), and digital skills. These courses are often free or heavily subsidised for eligible learners, and they play an important role in helping adults access employment and participate fully in community life.
The universities in Portsmouth and Southampton offer part-time and evening courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level, as well as short courses and professional development programmes. The Open University is also popular in the region, allowing adults to study for degrees and other qualifications from home while continuing to work.
Libraries across the Solent area provide free access to computers, the internet, and online learning resources, and many run reading groups, digital skills sessions, and author events. The Discovery Centre in Fareham and the libraries in Gosport, Lee-on-the-Solent, Portchester, and Stubbington all contribute to the learning infrastructure of the region.
For those interested in practical skills, community workshops, men's sheds, and maker spaces have grown in popularity. These provide hands-on learning in woodworking, metalwork, and other crafts, combined with the social benefits of working alongside others. The U3A (University of the Third Age) has active groups across the Solent, offering interest-based learning and social activities for retired and semi-retired people.
The social dimension of adult learning should not be underestimated. For many participants, particularly those who have retired, are living alone, or are new to the area, a weekly class provides structure, companionship, and a reason to leave the house. The friendships formed in evening classes, workshop groups, and U3A meetings are an important part of the social fabric of Solent communities. The accessibility of learning opportunities, both in terms of cost and physical access, is a consideration that providers are increasingly addressing, with online options supplementing face-to-face provision.