Socialism & Adult Education - Historical perspectives for a revived lifelong learning

Call for Papers

How important has socialism been to adult education? For most of history, adult education – structured learning, involving organised study and usually teaching – was restricted largely to social and religious elites. During the nineteenth century, however, as the industrial revolution tore apart the bonds of ‘traditional’ economies and societies, propelled migrants to towns and foreign lands, and demanded mastery of new skills, new popular democratic movements arose – most profoundly, the socialist movement.

In Britain, prior to the Elementary Education Act 1870, few working-class people had any formal education; even after that opportunities were limited. In response, a diverse range of non-statutory voluntary adult education organisations emerged. These included the Mutual Improvement Societies, the Young Adult Schools, the Education Settlements, the Mechanics’ Institutes, the Working Men’s College, University Extension, Co-operative Education, the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA), and Independent Working Class Education and the Labour College Movement. Some were deeply linked with socialism – others more tenuously, if at all – but together they made adult education in literacy, technical skills and knowledge, the liberals arts and politics accessible to many adults.

Through the twentieth century, at least until the neo-liberal era, the influence of socialist ideas and movements on adult education was deep. In the 21st century, however, the forces of global capitalism have systematically sought to marginalise socialist (and democratic) thought. As jobs, and much work that rewards the human spirit, are threatened by the advance of Artificial Intelligence, adult education is more and more expected to meet the objectives of “the economy” and the labour market. Wider educational purpose is ignored.

How have we come to this? The marginalisation of socialist perspectives is by no means confined to adult education. Yet so central was adult education to the emergence and growth of socialism – and the reverse is also true – as to pose essential and urgent questions. In what ways did adult education contribute to the development of socialism? Why did socialist perspectives play so central a role in the practice of adult education – and did they enrich or constrain it? What can we learn from examining the part that socialism, and socialists, played in adult education’s rich history?

We aim to revisit the topic of adult education and socialism in Britain in the 21st century through a special issue of the journal Socialist History. It seeks to revive the field of study, and to explore the idea to meet the diverse needs of a multi-cultural society more – rather than less – adult education is needed – and that the adult education needed should be broad rather than narrowly job-related. This is especially relevant to consider in connection with the new Lifelong Learning Entitlement which has the potential to transform how post-18 students fund and approach their studies throughout the course of their lifetimes.

What new research perspectives can academics – and scholar-practitioners and activists – from all disciplines bring to the history of adult education, and to the understanding of socialist approaches to improving economic, social and cultural welfare?

We invite submission of abstracts of approx. 300 words. They may explore any aspect of the interlinked history of adult education and socialism. We welcome contributions relating not only to Britain, but to Europe (western, central and eastern) and other locations around the world. Topics may include (but are not limited to):

• The experience of tutors and students of different forms of adult education
• The politics of adult education
• Organisations that provided adult education
• The impact of adult education on socialist ideology and movements
• Key figures in the adult education movement – tutors, students and organisers
• Gendered perspectives of adult education
• The buildings and spaces of adult education
• The organisation and delivery of adult education
• The content and curriculum of different forms of adult education
• Biographical and autobiographical accounts of adult education
• Local and regional case studies of adult education
• The consuming of adult education
• The role of socialism in colonial adult education
• The financing of adult education initiatives
• State support for adult education
• Local government and adult education provision

Please email abstracts with your affiliation, a short biography and contact information to:
john.holford AT nottingham.ac.uk and p.kumbhat AT staff.newman.ac.uk. 

The deadline for submission of abstracts is Friday 30th October 2026.

We hope to convene a symposium on this theme on Wednesday 7th April 2027 at Birmingham Newman University, where contributors can discuss their draft papers and ideas. The symposium will provide an opportunity to share work in progress, receive feedback, and develop papers to be considered for publication in the Socialist History special issue in autumn 2027. The April symposium will be an in-person event, although authors based outside the UK will have the option of presenting remotely via Microsoft Teams.

My source: Bob Foster, Admin: https://www.raymondwilliamsfoundation.org.uk/

Reflecting on The Times Education Commission 2022

"At the Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California, Susan Prescott, vice-president of enterprise and education marketing, argued that economic prosperity depended on human ingenuity. “Creativity doesn’t mean ‘Have a music and an arts class’. Creativity means across disciplines, how can you bring in ways for kids to engage in the material differently? How do you bring in opportunities for kids to reflect their learning in new ways? How do you use it to get a different, broader view rather than the fact-based stuff?" p.58. (with my emphasis and below)

Included in the 12-point plan for education:

1 A British Baccalaureate

It would offer broader academic and vocational qualifications at 18, with parity in funding per pupil in both routes, and a slimmed-down set of exams at 16 to bring out the best in every child.

2 ‘Electives premium’

This should be offered for all schools to be spent on activities including drama, music, dance and sport and a National Citizen Service experience for every pupil, with volunteering and outdoor pursuits expeditions to ensure that the co-curricular activities enjoyed by the most advantaged become available to all.

3 New cadre of Career Academies

These would be elite technical and vocational sixth forms with close links to industry, mirroring the academic sixth forms that are being established and a new focus on creativity and entrepreneurialism in education to unleash the economic potential of Britain.

4 Significant boost to early years funding

The extra funding should be targeted at the most vulnerable. A unique pupil number would be given to every child from birth, to level the playing field before they get to school. Every primary school should have a library.

5 Army of undergraduate tutors

The students would earn credit towards their degrees by helping pupils who fall behind to catch up.

6 Making the most of tech

A laptop or tablet for every child, greater use of artificial intelligence in schools, colleges and universities to personalise learning, reduce teacher workload and prepare young people better for future employment.

7 Wellbeing at the heart of education

A counsellor should be placed in every school and an annual wellbeing survey of pupils carried out to encourage schools to actively build resilience rather than just support students once problems have arisen.

8 Bring out the best in teaching

The profession’s status and appeal would be increased with better career development, revalidation every five years and a new category of consultant teachers, promoted within the classroom, as well as a new teaching apprenticeship.

9 A reformed Ofsted

Ofsted should work collaboratively with schools to secure sustained improvement, rather than operating through fear, and a new “school report card” with a wider range of metrics including wellbeing, school culture, inclusion and attendance to unleash the potential of schools.

10 Better training

Teachers should be trained to identify children who have special educational needs, a greater focus should be placed on inclusion and a duty put on schools to remain accountable for the pupils they exclude to draw out the talent in every child.

11 New university campuses

New campuses should be created in 50 higher education “cold spots”, including satellite wings in further education colleges. In addition, pay and conditions in the FE sector should be improved and a transferrable credit system between universities and colleges created to boost stalled British productivity.

12 A 15-year strategy for education

The strategy should be drawn up in consultation with business leaders, scientists, local mayors, civic leaders and cultural figures, putting education above short-term party politics and bringing out the best in our schools, colleges and universities.

Obviously idealised but mapped here to Hodges' model the long-term - policy, strategic, funding, resource and workforce emphasis is apparent.

INDIVIDUAL

|

 INTERPERSONAL    :     SCIENCES               

HUMANISTIC --------------------------------------  MECHANISTIC      

SOCIOLOGY  :   POLITICAL 

|

GROUP

7 Wellbeing at the heart of education reflection critical thinking, communication and creativity	2 ‘Electives premium’ (outdoors) ... 6 Making the most of tech 7 Wellbeing at the heart of education
2 ‘Electives premium’ (drama, music, dance) ...	1 A British Baccalaureate 2 ‘Electives premium’ (National Citizen Service experience) 3 New cadre of Career Academies 4 Significant boost to early years funding 5 Army of undergraduate tutors 8 Bring out the best in teaching 9 A reformed Ofsted 10 Better training 11 New university campuses 12 A 15-year strategy for education

What, if anything, is missing?

With its recommendations, the Commission is not intended to be prescriptive, specifying educational methods, methodologies and resources. But the aims and mapping above, point to the need to link education and health as per #7 Wellbeing at the heart of education. 

There is surely an avenue here - via the sustainable development goals, which the UK must also 'achieve'. Consider the following too:

"The system doesn’t measure creativity; it measures what you can remember of other people’s facts.” p.11.

"A British Baccalaureate at 18, an equally rigorous but broader qualification than A-levels with academic and vocational options under the same umbrella. Pupils studying for the academic Diploma Programme would take six subjects — three major, three minor — covering humanities and sciences as well as units on critical thinking, communication and creativity. Those on the Career-related Programme would combine learning (which could include BTecs or a T-level) with work experience. There would be the option for students to “mix and match” elements of both programmes to create the qualification that best suited them. All pupils would do an extended project, community service and some literacy and numeracy through to 18. Digital skills would be woven through the whole curriculum." p.95.

What is missing is understandably the aforementioned tools to facilitate creativity, but let state this as follows and join the dots with wellbeing.

• We need to respect, support and encourage students to be and become curators of their lifelong learning and life chances. 
• The reference p.11 to students being measured on what they can "remember of other people’s facts" is a key statement. As a curator, students should be the marshal of their own 'memory palace' pushing the boundaries, their envelope as the lifelong learning (constant test-pilot) of what we hope is a long career - and not just while in 'work'.
  
• In the above mapping, we can see what is recognised in 'wellbeing'. Pupils need a foundation, they need the confidence and self-esteem to explore, express and explain any difficulties commensurate with their unique situation and identity. The importance of security (nationally, locally and personally) as the basis to address the social determinants of health are essential to integrate short and long-term policy aims and objectives, individual and collective success.

This is identified in the findings:

"Lee Elliot Major, a professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, said there were 'bold and compelling reform' in the commission’s findings.

He welcomed the adoption of his recommendations for undergraduate tutors to help poorer pupils, adding: 'We need to consider radical reset to ensure that the education system fulfils the potential of all children.'”

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/times-education-commission-report-welcomed-by-tony-blair-john-major-qwc3b7ktx

The Times Education Commission 2022, 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/society/education/education-commission

'Health career' - 'life chances'