We deliver exciting part-time courses and community projects to thousands of learners every year.
2019-20 Courses
Jump straight to page 11 for our full 2019-20 list of courses, by subject area.
English, maths & ESOL
Functional Skills and GCSE qualifications are available across the county – see pages 8-9.
Everyone should have an opportunity to learn, retrain and upskill, follow their passions or fulfil their potential.
That’s why we pride ourselves on removing obstacles and providing learning options and services at every stage of life, for all types of interests and whatever your personal circumstances may be.
The idea of this Guide is to inspire and spark interest, and provide a little insight into the kind of things you can do with us, the tutors who teach the courses and what our learners say about their experiences.
There are plenty of positive reasons to study part-time, whether it’s enjoying the social side of learning something totally new with other learners, or getting that sense of accomplishment that comes with a finished project.
Discover hundreds of courses in exciting and engaging subjects, taking place all year round across the county, with Oxfordshire Adult Learning.
Business & employability
There are more opportunities out there than ever to take a new turn in your career, whether it’s going freelance or part-time, starting a business, or gaining accredited qualifications to boost your CV.
Making the jump from one career to another or getting to the next rung in the ladder can be difficult and sometimes daunting, so it’s important to get the right advice and skills. Our tutors have years of experience which learners can draw upon in smaller class sizes, which allow for healthy discussions and feedback.
Flexibility and choice are also key – many of the business, finance and professional courses we offer can be studied in the evening and at weekends, fast-tracked for those with limited time, or in some cases studied online.
Want to run your own business?
I use the knowledge that I gained completing a business degree and my experience in running my own events company to teach learners business strategy skills and help to give them the confidence to start their own businesses.
Over 6 weeks we cover writing a business plan, market research, accounting, social media and much more!
Through group discussions and 1:1 feedback, the opportunity is there for learners to create a detailed, ready-to-use business plan by the end of the course.
Further Exploring with Microsoft Excel
Zainab Mirmalek ZM Events | www.thamescon.co.uk
Get qualified
Creative
Resurface those forgotten artistic talents. Inject your personality into unique projects. Gain the satisfaction of making something special, for you and for others.
If your creativity knows no bounds, our expert tutors can help to develop your technical skills, giving you freedom to explore ideas and try different techniques.
Bring items back to their former glory in fun, sociable and friendly workshop environments, such as upcycling your favourite piece of furniture or handed-down heirloom on an Upholstery course or learn Sewing techniques to bring a new lease of life to a well-loved dress.
There’s Pottery for keen kiln users; Crime Writing for novelloving newbies; DSLR courses for part-time photographers to gain professional knowledge, plus a range of one-day hair and beauty workshops.
With so much choice, the question is, where will your imagination take you?
Spotlight on Painting and Drawing
Illustration
As I frequently give drawing workshops at libraries, schools and museums, the invitation to teach fledging adult illustrators the art and craft of picture books seemed a natural development of promoting my passion – drawing.
The workshops are conducted as an editorial meeting, where students are shown how to design and illustrate three double page spreads with exploratory sketches and pencil roughs. By the end, students gain an understanding of the difficult but rewarding creative process involved when designing and illustrating a picture book.
With the classes that I teach, I try to bring some of my insight and enthusiasm for the discipline, from the basics of drawing and painting technique, through to developing individual styles and designing compositions.
It can be very rewarding to involve oneself in a creative activity and as well as acquiring a new skill, opening a learner up to being able to enjoy the work of other artists, past and present. Grant Waters www.grantsartwork.co.uk
Why not try...?
Guitar and Ukulele
Having worked in music all my life, I really enjoy the community side of it, developing skills in our local communities and using my experience to support local education projects.
It is very rewarding to see adult learners making deeper connections with the music they are passionate about, as we spend a lot of time demystifying some myths on how hard or ‘impossible’ it might appear.
“ ”
Karl Demata www.demata.co.uk
Stained Glass
Did you know?
According to City & Guilds, hairdressers are the happiest workers in the UK!
The courses I teach are unique as you can choose to work in leading, copper foiling or glass microwave fusing, allowing students to make panels or hanging pieces of all sizes for the home and garden.
Many of my students get a feeling of achievement, build confidence, make new friends and career contacts, or simply enjoy a new hobby! Discover COURSES IN
Art & Design... pg 11-13
Creative Writing... pg 11
Dance & Drama... pg 15
Hair & Beauty... pg 15-16
Home & Interior... pg 16-17
Music... pg 20
Photography... pg 20-21
English & maths
Looking to boost your confidence in English, maths, science or digital? With Oxfordshire Adult Learning, our friendly and flexible courses can get you to where you need to be, wherever you’re starting from
What can I do?
We offer English and maths courses at a wide range of levels, whether it’s learning the basics with Functional Skills or achieving your GCSEs. We provide quality support and feedback to help you achieve that all-important qualification.
There are also opportunities to improve your digital ICT skills alongside an English or maths course whilst you are with us. Studying science at GCSE level is also possible with OAL.
How does it work?
The process is simple! Call our Admissions team on 01235 216 400 to book an assessment at a venue that is nearest to you, then attend at the allotted time and complete either a paper – or computer-based assessment. This isn’t as scary as it sounds – this is just to find out the level you are currently working at so that we can make sure you are enrolled to the correct course. An assessor will look at your work and advise you of the course that is suitable for you. Once that’s done, you can enrol and turn up to the class at the identified time.
How much will it cost me?
If you have an existing GCSE grade D/3 or below, the course is free (subject to eligibility). If you wish to improve your grade C/4, then fees will apply.
Where and when do courses take place?
flexiblelearning
We offer courses during the week in the morning, afternoon and evening, and start all year round. We have classes in Oxford, Kidlington, Grove, Banbury, Didcot, Abingdon, Bicester, and Witney.
You can find details on upcoming courses and funding eligibility on our website: www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk/oal To get in touch and book your course, call us on 01235 216 400 or email enquiries@abingdon-witney.ac.uk
English for speakers of other languages (ESOL)
Improve your English language skills with Oxfordshire Adult Learning!
ESOL courses can help improve English reading, writing and speaking skills and are available to anyone living in the UK who does not have English as their first language.
Starting all year round, we offer courses during the week in the morning, afternoon and evening. Classes take place in Oxford, Kidlington, Grove, Banbury, Didcot, Abingdon, Bicester, and Witney.
Call our Admissions team on 01235 216 400 to book a class at a venue that is nearest to you.
Did
you know?
English as a second language is the single most popular subject in the world after mathematics.
Family Learning
All Family Learning courses are open to parents and carers of children of any age and encourage you to take an active part in their development and education.
These courses can be one-day workshops or longer courses in schools, children’s centres, libraries, arts centres, and community rooms – wherever there is a need and space – using a mixture of learning activities in fun and sociable settings.
Whatever the subject, the focus is always on finding ways to help parents and carers support their children’s development and learning, whilst giving the adults the chance to work on their own skills. Better yet, you don’t have to pay a penny to attend these courses!
Find courses and more details at www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk/oal/ family or call 01235 216 400.
Please note: There are some eligibility criteria for non-British adults – if you think that this applies to you, please ask for details when booking a class.
The trainers showed a genuine passion for wanting to support and make a difference to young families. Thank you.
Getting Ready for School
I am now more confident when speaking English and I want to learn more.
Family Learning ESOL
Thanks for making this a safe space where we can share our struggles and receive support and learn how to parent in a more positive and holistic way.
Family Links
It has given me so much I can take forward to help process my grief and to have hope in the future while acknowledging my loss.
Carer feedback from ‘Reclaiming Me’
A Carer’s Journey
Looking after someone who would not be able to manage without your help?
The caring role can be extremely challenging and changeable, with often little to prepare you from any previous experience you may have had. Whether you have just become a carer, been one for several years or your caring role has ended, our workshops are designed to support your caring role at different stages.
Created in a partnership between Action for Carers Oxfordshire and OAL, the Carer’s Journey FREE workshops are organised into three phases and you can attend the whole programme or just pick the workshops most relevant for you:
Practical Caring at Home - three individual half-day workshops
• First Aid at Home
• Safer Moving & Handling
• Individual Care at Home
Balancing Life and Caring - five individual half-day workshops
• Building Resilience
• Emotional Literacy
• Mindfulness
• Yoga for Relaxation
• Aromatherapy Massage
Reclaiming Me - six-week course (two hours per week)
• A short course that supports the practical and emotional challenges associated with change and life after caring.
Workshops are FREE and available to those aged 19 and over and will run throughout 2019 around Oxfordshire, including Banbury, Witney and Abingdon.
Find out more at: www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk/oal/carers
Part-time Courses 2019-20
Accounting & Business
Accounting - Level 3 AAT Advanced Diploma (Online & On Campus) s n
Animal Care
Bookkeeping - Intermediate
Keep Track of Your Finances Using Easy Bookkeeping
Certificate in Dog Walking - Level 2
Dog Agility Club - Beginners
Dog Agility Club - Improvers
Dog Agility Taster Evening
Introduction to Lambing
Art & Design
Acrylic
Payroll for Business - Level 1 IAB Award
Acrylic Painting - Mixed Ability s
Art & Design
& Painting - Beginners s
Drawing from Scratch - Beginners
Painting - Improvers
Drawing from Scratch - Beginners and Improvers
Drawing from Scratch - Mixed Ability
Drawing into Painting
Illustration for Children’s Picture Books - Beginners
Hinton Waldrist
Jewellery with Silver - Mixed Ability continued overleaf
Art & Design
Portrait Drawing - Introduction
23/04/2020 19:00–21:00 Abingdon Campus
Printmaking - Kitchen Sink Lithography s
Printmaking - Mixed Ability s
Stained Glass: Copper Foil and Lead Making Workshop - Mixed Ability
Practical Horticulture - Level 2 RHS Certificate s
EPCM303P 18/09/2019 9:30–12:30
EPCM302P 21/09/2019 9:30–12:30 Common Leys Farm
ESAR002P
Languages
Level Breakdown
Beginners Introduction (11 weeks) – You are a complete beginner who is learning how to Year 1 get by and building up confidence.
Beginners (22 weeks) – Year 1 You have completed Beginners Introduction and would like to progress further.
Improvers – Year 2 You have completed previous level courses with us or approx. 50 hours of learning elsewhere and are familiar with the present tense.
Intermediate – Year 3 You have completed previous level courses with us and/or have 120 hours of learning and are familiar with past and present tenses.
Higher Intermediate – Year 4 You have completed previous level courses with us and/or have 180 hours of learning.
Working Towards Fluency – Year 5 You have completed 4 years of study with us and/or have 240 hours of learning and have learnt the main tenses. Here there is a focus on understanding and making yourself understood in a wide range of increasingly unpredictable situations.
Improving Fluency – Year 6 You have already completed a Working Towards Becoming Fluent – Year 7 Fluency course and/or have 300 hours of learning and feel confident with the main tenses.
Would you like to study as a family? For any course marked with a *, a child can attend for free with one paying adult. Please ask for more information when applying for a course.
Leadership, Management & HR
Coaching - Level 3 ILM Certificate n
Human Resource Practice - Level 3 CIPD Diploma s n
Human Resource Management - Level 5 CIPD Certificate s n
BSAQ605P
Personnel and Development - Level 7 CIPD Postgraduate Diploma s
Leadership & Management - Level 3 ILM Certificate n
Leadership & Management - Level 7 ILM Award n BSAN107P 05/05/2020 9:30–16:30 Abingdon Campus
N/A
Singing in Harmony
Music
Ukulele - Beginners
Ukulele - Improvers
Photography
DSLR Photography - How the Camera Works
Sport & Fitness
Instructing Kettlebells Training Sessions - Level 2 VTCT Award SPAQ100P
Personal Training - Level 3 NCFE Certificate (Fast Track) n SSAQ104P 11/11/2019 9:30–16:00
CSAL104P 23/09/2019 12:30–17:00 Abingdon Campus MON 24 £1417.00 N/A Education & Training - Level 5 Diploma n
CSAM116P
Wellbeing
Psychology and Coaching - Introduction
Counselling Skills - Level 1 Award
Counselling (Therapeutic) - Level 4 CPCAB Diploma s n
How to Use Modern Psychology to Improve Your Life
Interpersonal Skills - Stage 1
Interpersonal Skills with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - Stage 2
Learning Cowley
Learn how to be a Life Coach - Introduction
Awareness - Level 1 Award
Where to find OAL venues
Want to know where your course is running? You can visit www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk/oal/centres to view all our locations, turn to page 31, or ask our Admissions team at the point of applying.
First AidDay
family day
In the community
Community Led Learning supports the development of peoples’ skills, health, financial security and career prospects by offering learning opportunities to those who feel they need it most.
A very effective workshop. Easy step-by-step guidance from the tutor, balanced with enough time to progress independently.
Pallet DIY | Sustainable Wantage
I’ve been surprised but delighted at how inspiring I have found the course for confidence-building and seeking a new job that is more meaningful.
Mental Health First Aid | Restore Oxford
From improving interview skills, family play days, health and wellbeing classes, to making life-changing steps towards a new career, our aim is to bring quality and relevant training to local communities.
To deliver this initiative across the county and widen participation, the Oxfordshire Learning Network (OLN) is a partnership between providers of adult education and services who work together to bring these highquality projects to communities.
We have over a dozen partnerships with providers within the Network.
Here’s a selection of courses you can do:
• Pallet DIY, Crochet and Plumbing with Sustainable Wantage
• Shooting Video and Screenwriting with Film Oxford
• FA Level 1-2 Award in Coaching Football with the Oxfordshire FA in Witney
• Mental Health First Aid with Restore Oxford
• Music and Singing with Others at the Abingdon Music Centre
• Beginner and Advanced IT, Excel, and Website Building with BLITZ in Blackbird Leys
• Poetry and Life Drawings at the Mill Arts Centre in Banbury
• Bike Maintenance with the Windrush Bike Project in Witney
To find out more about the courses and services available visit www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk/oal and select ‘Oxfordshire Learning Network’ or ‘Community Led Learning’.
Health & wellbeing
Spending enough time for you to look after you – how many of us can say we do enough of this?
We can often struggle to find those precious moments of relaxation that fit in around a busy lifestyle or pick up healthy habits that are manageable and affordable.
This is where part-time courses really make a difference. Having others around you for motivation and to socialise and qualified tutors to encourage you can help turn unfamiliar experiences into positive life choices.
Yoga, posturecise, massage and exercising to music teaches learners different ways in which to improve fitness, flexibility and relaxation techniques.
Did you know? Research has found that kids aged 4-6 perform better during boring tasks when dressed as Batman.
If you are looking to help and guide others, we also provide courses in counselling, personal training and psychology from basic introductions to full qualifications.
I have always been interested in health and wellbeing and enjoy talking about and making food for people. For me, cooking is vital to living well, so I often share useful tips about how food doesn’t have to be tricky and that we can enjoy unique meals that don’t cost the earth.
Rosalia Barresi | www.rosbarresi.co.uk
I have thoroughly enjoyed the yoga classes. Cheryl has been a wonderful teacher and inspirational. I really have found a new me.
Yoga Mixed Ability
Feedback ” “
Develop new skills
Getting the right knowledge, building confidence and brainstorming ideas to discuss with others are key to many of our courses, including counselling.
pg 22
and Fitness... pg 21
pg 22
Languages
The desire to learn a new language and learn about other cultures is a gateway to a world of exciting experiences.
Did you know?
Our most popular part-time course from all subjects is Beginners Spanish!
Not only can you become more adept at conversations on your travels, you could put your new skills to practice in a restaurant, help lost tourists – maybe even start a career as a translator!
Our passionate tutors, many of whom are native speakers, bring to life a dozen language areas through engaging, friendly sessions that get the whole class involved in discussions and feedback.
We also have specialist language classes, such as Sign Language, Lipreading, and Business French.
And for anyone who would like to bring their children along, some courses allow learners to bring a child aged 5-14 years for free!
For more information visit: www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk
Greek Languages
After working for a few years in adult education back at home in Greece, I now teach beginners and advanced learners with OAL. In my classes, you can discover and become more familiar with another culture as well as socialise and enjoy being in a group of people who share the same interests as you.
I always try to have variety in my classes, with activities that promote interaction between learners in a fun way and with a lot of cultural input through media, songs and literature.
There is more to learning Greek than just the language!
Stagoni
Feedback
Good course, content varied and pitched at an appropriate level and speed. A good group of other learners all at a similar level of skill and I enjoyed the breadth of topics covered.
Intermediate French
The pace and amount of information were excellent. Gloria made each lesson lively and interesting, and I learned a great deal about Spanish culture as well as the language.
Intermediate Spanish
Inspire
Level Breakdown
Our new structure in teaching languages means that students now study for a full academic year (2 hours per week for 33 weeks). This makes it more affordable as you don’t have to pay per term, and more flexible if you are unable to attend all the sessions.
In seven years, learning part-time, you could become a fluent speaker!
Turn to page 17 to find out which courses you can do and an explanation of the different levels.
travels
Practical
If you’re motivated to pick up a practical new skill, we have the facilities and expertise to help get you started.
The workshop was very good, plenty of items to work with, and a great instructor. I will continue with the next improvers course – can’t wait!
“ ”
Beginners Plumbing
Anyone can come in as a beginner, learn alongside like-minded people, and leave with the passion to try an improvers course or even consider a change in career (it has happened!).
DIY enthusiasts eager to make home improvements and save on labour costs can learn the fundamentals in trades like plumbing or carpentry. There are cookery courses, including Italian breadmaking, vegetarian dishes, and cocktail-making for anyone who’s ever wanted to know how to make a decent mojito!
Animal-lover or keen gardener? Maybe both?
Look no further than the Common Leys Farm campus. Based just outside of Witney, we have courses for canines such as dog agility and grooming, along with RHS-accredited qualifications in horticulture.
It’s time to take your hands-on hobby to the next level...
Floristry
I have been teaching at the college for two years, having run my own business, creating unique designs for brides and working on some high-profile events too.
The Beginners course is about starting with simple designs, shapes and the flower choices the students make, whilst Improvers work on the styles and skills already learned and bring in designer elements to increase the perceived value of the arrangement.
As courses progress, students themselves research designs and I encourage them to keep budgets low by going out and foraging for foliage. It gets quite competitive around Christmas as to who can find the most items to wire into the wreaths and table centres and where they foraged them from!
Nikki Budd www.facebook.com/flowersofoxford
Learner
Italian Breadmaking at Cheney School
In the first session, we prepared the dough to make focaccia. Our tutor, Mariella Guida, showed us how to knead and handle the bread gently (so not to lose the bubbles that had developed during proving) and demonstrated how the tomatoes, olives and herbs needed to be pushed into the bread so that they didn’t fall out during baking. We enjoyed the classes so much that we asked if the course could be extended for a further three sessions!
pg 11
pg 14
pg 15
pg 15
pg 17
pg 17
What’s next?
Wondering where newly acquired skills can take you? Here are some of the popular routes available to develop and challenge yourself even further.
Access to Higher Education & Diplomas
If you have not studied for a while, or perhaps don’t have formal qualifications but are interested in enrolling for a degree-level course, then an Access course could be the ideal first step. We also teach across several exciting Diploma programmes that act as a bridge into Undergraduate-level study.
Visit www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk/access-tohigher-education to browse available courses.
Apprenticeships
Nowadays, an apprentice can be any age, not just a school leaver. Opportunities go far beyond the traditional practical trades too, including apprenticeships in horticulture, management, childcare and motor vehicle. So why consider an apprenticeship with Abingdon & Witney College?
• Zero cost for the apprentice
• Highly-recognised as a route for career changers
• On-the-job support and training from both employer and training provider
• College’s award-winning Apprenticeship team is graded ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted
Visit www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk/ apprenticeships to find out more or call 01235 216 216.
Undergraduate & Professional Courses
You don’t have to travel vast distances to study degreelevel and professional courses. Abingdon & Witney College provide local and flexible opportunities to gain qualifications and open up career options across our three main campuses.
Key benefits include:
• Smaller class sizes
• Flexible timetables to fit in around work and life
• State-of-the-art facilities accessible only to Undergraduate students
• An academic partnership with Oxford Brookes University, giving access to resources and more
Go to www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk/ higher-education or pick up a Prospectus from one of our campuses to discover what you could study with us!
Don’t let money be the one thing that stops you from joining the thousands of students already studying with us every year. If you’re worried about the cost of your course, there are lots of options we can explore to support you.
You can find details about eligibility and fee reduction on our website: www. abingdon-witney.ac.uk/info-centre/ course-fees/
Want to speak to someone about your options? Call our Admissions team today on 01235 216 400.
