Learning about the world around us

Here at the WEA we offer a huge range of humanities and science courses, with something for everyone.  

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If you’re interested in the natural world, our geography and environment courses are the perfect choice. Our packed curriculum explores some of the biggest issues facing society, such as climate change and the fight against the destruction of some of Earth’s most precious resources. The option to learn in person or online means that our geography courses can whisk you away to a far-flung corner of the globe, all without you ever having to leave your own home. 

Studying a science

If you choose to take one of our psychology courses you’ll be immersed in the study of the human mind. With options to learn about memory and identity, you’ll get the chance to explore and debate some of the most famous psychological experiments.  

There’s also Sociology too, a subject that focuses on human behaviour, interaction, and relationships. If you’d like to explore some of the biggest questions in life, then our philosophy courses are for you. Small class sizes mean that you’ll get to discuss and debate in a supportive environment, all with an experienced tutor on hand.  

Attend a Humanities and Science course near you  

Whether you choose to learn from the comfort of your own home or opted for face-to-face learning at a local community venue, you’ll be taught by a talented tutor who is an expert in their subject. Our learning experience sets us apart from other providers, with learners regularly highlighting the difference that an encouraging environment makes. 

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History: History of Ideas: The Big Questions Part 2

One of the most fascinating aspects of the history of ideas is learning how ideas have a life of their own, influencing society and culture through successive generations in different ways. In this 6-week course we’ll focus on a different important and influential question each week. We cover philosophy, literature, science and history. We’ll read and discuss selected extracts which will be circulated beforehand. The course covers a sweep of over 2000 years, from the ancient Greeks to modern times.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 22/04/2025 -
Tue 27/05/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Enfield Baptist Church (Enfield) (Enfiel
Cecil Road
Enfield
EN2 6TG
Tutor:
Brandon Robshaw
Course code:
Q00017976
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £72.00

Philosophy: Great Contemporary Moral Issues 2

There are several issues which are of great moral concern in contemporary society. This course considers some of these issues. The issues are Immigration, Capital Punishment, World Hunger, Economic Justice, and War. We’ll arrive to begin with at an understanding of the issue and then consider some of the academic discussion surrounding it. No prior specialist knowledge is required to attend this course.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 23/04/2025 -
Wed 21/05/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
The Cornerstone (Wokingham)
Norreys Avenue
Wokingham
RG40 1UE
Tutor:
Karim Esmail
Course code:
Q00017429
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
£50.00

Gardening Practical: Preparing and Sowing

This practical course is to be run at the Parkstone Day Centre in Poole and is designed to empower adults with learning difficulties to develop their gardening skills and confidence in preparing and sowing seeds. The course will focus on providing a supportive and enjoyable environment, where participants can learn new skills, socialise, and take home their own seedlings. Who is this course for? This course is designed specifically for adults with learning difficulties who want to develop their gardening skills and confidence. No prior experience is necessary, as the course is tailored to meet the needs of each participant.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 23/04/2025 -
Wed 09/07/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:00pm
Duration:
24 sessions
Location:
Tricuro -Parkstone Connect Day Centre (P
Croft Road
Poole
BH12 3LD
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00017345
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £151.20

History: Famous Russian Women Shaping World History & Culture

This course will aim to explore the lives of some extraordinary Russian women and their contributions to World History and Culture through various mediums. The women mentioned is this course not only contributed heavily to Russian history and culture but also the world.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 23/04/2025 -
Wed 18/06/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
The Priory (Ware)
High Street
Ware
SG12 9AL
Tutor:
Marina Burrell
Course code:
Q00019079
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £67.20

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

History: 'Wish you were here’ – a history of holidays through the ages

What did it feel like to be a holiday maker in the past? Originally holidays were just Holy Days and a chance to make merry but they didn’t involve you leaving home. Travel for leisure really does not start until the 17th century with trips to a spa or seaside town for health reasons and to enjoy the social life. Later the Grand Tour is available for the wealthy. Change comes with the railways and cheap day trips, and in the 20th century paid holidays, seaside towns and holiday camps. Over the last 50 years overseas holidays, have been within the reach of many but what do current environmental and social concerns mean for the future? Join the class to find out more.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 24/04/2025 -
Thu 05/06/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Caterham Baptist Church (Caterham)
4 Beechwood Road
Caterham
CR3 6NA
Tutor:
Kate Antoniou
Course code:
Q00013710
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £58.80

History: Essex Buildings, People and Places

Join us to investigate buildings across the county and discover the stories they tell. From when they were built and why, to what and who they were for, this course takes a selection of historic buildings including houses, shops, public buildings, places of industry and entertainment to start our exploration of the history of Essex people and places. By the end of the course you will have new places to visit and a starting place to investigate a building of your own.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Wed 25/06/2025
Times:
7:30pm - 9:30pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Billericay Reading Rooms (Billericay)
73 High Street
Billericay
CM12 9AS
Tutor:
Claire Parker
Course code:
Q00017709
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £67.20

History, Napoleon: Citizen to Emperor

Explore the life and legacy of Napoleon Bonaparte with our History: Napoleon: Citizen to Emperor course. Learn about his rise to power, his impact on Europe, and the controversies surrounding his reign. Ideal for history enthusiasts and students of European history.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Wed 11/06/2025
Times:
11:30am - 1:30pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Barking Enterprise Centre CIC (Barking)
50 Cambridge Road
Barking
IG11 8FG
Tutor:
Amy Miller
Course code:
Q00017373
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £70.00

Philosophy: Philosophy behind the Headlines

The course will briefly introduce the principal ideas of a selection of philosophers and apply these to the discussion of the news headlines and the controversies that lie behind them. This course will encourage discussion and sharing of ideas about current affairs and will involve reflecting on how to make philosophy a part of this discussion. Reading material will be provided on Canvas and the tutor will introduce the key ideas of relevant articles. However, reading before class is not essential. The main activity is to share ideas on news stories.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 01/05/2025 -
Thu 05/06/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Blue Beetle Room (London)
Hendon Lane
Finchley
London
N3 1TR
Tutor:
Daniel Williams
Course code:
Q00017388
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
£60.00

History: Advanced History : Byzantium - the Great Age

How did the Roman Empire survive the great challenges it faced at the dawn of the 9th century? We will examine How the Empress Irene was able to not only maintain her status at court but also continue to pursue her own policies. We will go on to consider the difficulties posed by her irregular methods of maintaining imperial authority and how they in turn ultimately created the circumstances of her own downfall. Thereafter, we will look at the efforts made by her immediate successes to stabilise Roman interests both in the East and the West.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 01/05/2025 -
Thu 17/07/2025
Times:
11:45am - 1:45pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
WEA (Derby)
The Mill
Lodge Lane
Derby
DE1 3HB
Tutor:
Gary Slator
Course code:
Q00016041
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £88.80

History: Architectural Pomp, Trauma & Resurgence, Berlin, 1800 to 2000

This course studies how the architecture of the dynamic Berlin that we see today has been shaped by the events of its troubled history and by the ambitions and styles of its leaders. From 1740 to 1945, Berlin saw a series of aggressive war leaders who sought to make Prussia and then Germany the dominant force in the world, eventually styling Berlin as the capital of the world. Utterly destroyed by 1945, Berlin was reborn as two distinct cities, one rebuilt in Western and the other in Communist styling. Since the Wall fell in 1989, the united city has flourished, embracing grand city plans and modern, hi-tech architecture.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 07/06/2025 -
Sat 07/06/2025
Times:
10:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Reading International Solidarity Centre
35-39 London Street
Reading
RG1 4PS
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00018042
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20