WEA courses

This course will consider and analyse the following authors and their texts. These are: The Stranger’s Child - Alan Hollinghurst. The Blue Flower - Penelope Fitzgerald. A Pale View of Hills - Kazuo Ishiguro. Last Orders - Graham Swift. On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan. These texts will provide a window into the different regions of Britain during the last fifty years, decades of major change in the social fabric and political nature of Britain, though several of our texts will trace these changes back to the earlier part of the twentieth century, and in doing so, we will encounter themes of identity, class and the decline of Empire. There will be much to prompt discussion and challenge our assumptions. This course is funded by Greater London Combined Authority.

If you enjoy the buzz of learning environments, this qualification can teach you key skills for employment in a school or college. This government-funded course prepares you for a variety of roles. It provides the basic skills and knowledge necessary to work in admin, technical, or support roles in a learning environment. Studying support work in schools at level 2 can be a first step towards working with kids in teaching positions. It also provides you with the qualifications needed to work in admin at schools. No matter what role you’re interested in, this course can teach you skills for employability in schools and colleges.

This course will build on the work we did last term working with yoga, breathing exercises, meditation and guided relaxation. The role of the breath will be key throughout. Each session will be adapted to the needs of the individual.

British art of the twentieth century is outstanding for its range of interest, style and inherent individualism. This course explores the richness and diversity of the fascinating work of a range of artists including Paul Nash, L.S. Lowry, Graham Sutherland, Ben Nicholson, Henry Moore and Lucian Freud. We also discover how a modernist approach emerged from the British art of the Great War.

Learn basic communication skills with this ESOL speaking and listening course. This English course is for speakers of other languages. It will help you learn essential speaking and listening skills to be able to communicate in English. Entry 1 ESOL courses help people who are just starting to learn English. This course will help you gain confidence to speak about basic topics and understand core words. There are also reading and writing courses at this level. If you’re helping others access ESOL classes in the UK, you’ve come to the right place.

If you are getting ready to take an ESOL entry 2 speaking and listening course, this course can help you prepare. Set yourself up for success with this ESOL preparation course. Learn verbal communication skills to get up to speed before starting your entry 2 ESOL course. Get ready courses help you learn English at your own pace. They give you extra study time for each level and module so you can reach your full potential. This is an introductory English course for beginners. If you’re helping others access entry 2 ESOL classes in the UK, you’ve come to the right place.

This workshop will re-examine the golden rule in creative writing “Show don’t tell.” With published extracts from a variety of genres, both fiction and creative non- fiction, you will see what is meant by effective showing. How emotions, thoughts, reactions are described rather than explained to make the story so much more engaging. You’ll learn how to apply this to your work with great effect. Rather than ‘don’t tell’ you’ll learn where telling and summary are essential for pace and plot. This course is intended for those who have some experience of creative writing. This course is funded by the Education Skills and Funding Agency.

Are you bilingual? Ever thought about using your language skills to help out in the community? Did you know you can get many jobs with languages? If you speak English and another language fluently, you could make a great community interpreter. This community interpreter course gives you an introduction to the language and interpreting skills needed for this type of work. It can teach you foundational concepts to test your community interpreting skills informally with family or friends. This course can prepare you to help members of your family or community to overcome language barriers in their everyday lives. It can also help you decide if you’re interested in pursuing community interpreting jobs.

Would you like to draw and paint but think you can't? Do you lack confidence in beginning your artistic journey? This course is suitable for anyone who wants to have a go but doesn't know where to start. Working with our experienced and friendly tutor you will explore the fundamentals of drawing and basic painting techniques. This is a beginners course where no prior experience is needed. Each week we will take a step by step approach to exploring the fundamentals of drawing, building up to experimenting with some basic techniques, that will pave a way into painting.

Take your maths skills to the next level to help you with work or study opportunities. Adult maths teaches you practical numeracy skills for everyday life. This entry 3 functional skills maths course offers a practical way to learn maths as an adult. Functional skills maths courses aren’t like studying maths at school. You’ll learn maths in context. Develop maths skills to face real-life situations such as organising your personal budget or applying discounts when shopping. This entry 3 functional maths course is right for you if you want to enhance your maths skills to work or study. It can help you learn essential maths skills employers look for. Functional Skills qualifications are free if you don't already have a GCSE in English or Maths at grades 4-9 or A*-C. We'll check your level and any previous qualifications before you start. This ensures you are on the correct course.