Essex County Council to launch new Arts and Culture Fund
Essex County Council (ECC) have committed to unlocking £1,000,000 of funding over five years to support Essex’s arts and cultural…
Read more
Don’t put your dreams on hold! We have adapted our courses to be delivered both at centres and remotely. So whatever the situation, you can #KeepLearning.
More information | FAQs | Download the Qualifications and Skills for Employment leaflet
Access to Higher Education
Develop your skills or take the next steps in your career with a flexible learning course. These courses can be completed at a time that suits you.
Access to Higher Education
An Access to Higher Education course is a different way of getting to university. We all take different paths in life and it is never too late to make a change, achieve your goals and reach your potential.
Accounting (AAT)
We offer foundation courses that will prepare you for junior and entry level accounting roles to advanced courses where you can achieve the AAT Accounting Qualification.
Beauty & Complementary Therapies
Learn the skills needed to start a new and exciting career in Beauty & Complementary Therapies. Gain professional salon experience, practise on real-life clients and learn innovative techniques. Funding for these courses could be available.
Business & Management
We offer an extensive range of business & management courses, from level 2 qualifications in team leading, customer service, and lean organisation management, to helping you run and market your business efficiently.
Career & Employability Skills
Learn the skills to inspire, empower and get the job you’ve always wanted.
Counselling
Our counselling courses will give you the skills needed to pursue a professional career. We offer courses at varying locations across Essex, including; Counselling Skills Introduction, Level 2, and Level 3.
Creative Qualifications
We offer a comprehensive range of accredited creative courses. Discovering new and exciting skills whilst exploring your creative side and sharing inspirational moments with others.
English & Maths
English and Maths plays a vital part in our daily lives. Whether applying for a job, helping children with their homework or just reading a newspaper or online article. Our free* English and Maths courses will help to blow away the cobwebs, improve your confidence and gain a qualification.
Early Years & Education
This is a knowledge based qualification that can be accessed by a wide range of candidates not yet involved in working or volunteering in school. It is therefore a valuable opportunity for individuals considering learning support in schools as a career choice.
English for Speakers of Other Langauges (ESOL)
These courses will help you to settle in the UK, gain employment, progress onto other training courses or just be more confident in communicating with other people.
European Computer Driving License (ECDL)
European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) is the world’s number one IT user qualification. This course covers Word processing, Excel (spreadsheets), Powerpoint (presentations) in addition to a unit on improving productivity in IT.
GCSEs
Whether it’s to help your children with their homework, to feel more confident with day-to-day tasks or to get the job you are after, we have a course at a level that will suit you. We offer a range of e-learning, distance learning, intensive and fast-track courses for you to choose from.
Hairdressing & Barbering
Learn the skills needed to start a new and exciting career in hairdressing & barbering. Our courses take place in working salons within our centres. Whilst learning new skills, you will be introduced to the importance of customer service, client interaction and how to run a successful professional salon.
Health, Medical & Care
Whatever your ambitions within the Health, Medical and Care Sector, start fulfilling them by taking your next step with a course from our extensive range of provision.
Qualifications Latest News
Apprenticeship spotlight – Customer Service
Each week, we’ll be showcasing the fantastic apprenticeships opportunities we have to help support and develop businesses, apprentices, and the…
ACL Essex launches new courses for 2022
We are excited to launch our new courses for 2022! There’s over 1000 courses on offer across our centres and…
We have our winners: Autumn and Winter Scenes Competition
In November we launched our Autumn and Winter Scenes Competition. We asked you to get creative and submit artwork and…
Access to Higher Education students get a taste for life at university
On Wednesday 24th November, Access to Higher Education (HE) students from ACL had the opportunity to visit the University of…
Apprenticeship spotlight – IT & Technology
Each week, we’ll be showcasing the fantastic apprenticeships opportunities we have to help support and develop businesses, apprentices, and the…
Access to HE Learner of the Year – ACL Awards 2021
On Wednesday evening, we hosted our 2021 ACL Awards. The last 20 months have been a very challenging time for…
AAT Learner of the Year – ACL Awards 2021
On Wednesday evening, we hosted our 2021 ACL Awards. The last 20 months have been a very challenging time for…
Find Your Future!
We have launched a new programme of courses to support Essex-based residents as furlough comes to an end. Learners can…
Six reasons to study Access to Higher Education Diploma
Are you ready for progression to higher education but unsure which pathway to take? Are your results not what you…
Be Inspired! The doors are open at ACL centres across Essex | 7-11 September, 10am-1pm and 5pm-8pm
ACL Essex (Adult Community Learning) is welcoming adult learners back into the classroom with a series of open days at…
What can psychology teach us about learning effectively?
Article written by Matthew Harrington-Keeton, Access to Higher Education Tutor We’ve put together this guide of tips and tricks for…
ACL adult learners celebrate GCSE success
The results for GCSEs have just been released and ACL Essex (Adult Community Learning Essex) is celebrating another year of…
Set for success – Access to Higher Education Learners achieve success at ACL
Not all learners going to University this year will have got there following the traditional A-level route. The Access to…
ACL Discover Summer Magazine
We’re delighted to share with you our new Course Guide for September 2021. It finally feels like Summer has arrived…
New Course Guide for September 2021
We’re delighted to share with you our new Course Guide for September 2021. Browse our full range of courses and…
Tutor of the Year Awards 2021 – Access to Higher Education
The education sector has been particularly challenged as we adapt to the ways of living, working, and learning during the…
International Nurses’ Day
Today we celebrate International Nurses’ Day. We continue to be grateful for the incredible people who work in healthcare and…
Book your hair treatment now!
Our ACL Salon’s have reopened for barbering and hair treatments. The Hair Salon provides learners with the opportunity to work…
ACL Hairdressing learner wins Pivot Point Competition
Huge congratulations to Danielle Nolan who won a Pivot Point competition with these gorgeous hair styles. Her entry was amongst…
Creative Craft Entry Award Qualification
New online courses that give you the chance to receive a qualification and develop a portfolio, whilst expressing your creativity…
Looking for a new course, a new job, or to improve your career opportunities?
It can be very difficult to make decisions about which course to take, or career path to follow. How do…
ACL Discover Spring Magazine
We’re delighted to announce the launch of our Discover Magazine, available for free online and to pick up from supermarkets,…
National Skills Level 3 Adult Offer
Are you over 24? Get a Level 3 qualification fully funded through the National Skills Level 3 Adult Offer. From April…
Support to Access Online Census
ACL is an official #Census21 Support Center. We’re offering free and friendly support to anyone who needs it at locations…
Reopening our centres from 8 March
As you will be aware, the government has published the ‘COVID-19 Response – Spring 2021’, setting out the roadmap out…
Remote Education Offer
Should a learner need to self-isolate or local restrictions require them to stay at home and a course is not…
You Can Health & Care Programme launches for adults in Tendring
The You Can programme is for adults aged 16+ living in Tendring who would like to have an insight into…
Teams works: Collaboration the key for English at Essex Adult Community Learning
Bob Read is the Education and Training Foundation’s (ETF’s) Regional Specialist Lead (RSL) for Maths and English in the eastern…
5 benefits of online learning
Thinking about enrolling on an online course? But not sure what it might be like? Here’s a look at five…
Don’t let a bad school grade define you: Success Stories
“I have definitely made some lifelong friends on this course, we have all branched off into different degrees and universities…
ACL Learner recognised in national awards
“My learning has made a massive difference to my mental and physical health. I have an improved sense of self-esteem. …
A-levels aren’t the only option: Success Stories
We caught up with Emily, a former student at ACL, who is currently studying Psychology at the University of Durham…
Routes into Nursing
ACL Essex is offering a programme to enable individuals to access a Nursing Associate Apprenticeship in the Tendring District. The…
DID YOU KNOW Some of our Accredited courses could be fully funded?!
Yes, you read that right – you might not need to dip into your savings to gain qualifications. You can…
GCSE Results 2020
We’re incredibly proud of everyone collecting their results this year. Even though this has not been the year everyone thought…
Would you like to join our Learner Forum?
If you are a learner enrolled on a course with Adult Learning with ACL then you can apply. We are…
Tutor supports AAT students during exam
Last week, some of our Accounting students had their AAT exam at ACL Brentwood. Tutor Joanne bought some lovely balloons…
Access to Higher Education – Results Day 2020
We are incredibly proud to announce another year of successful results for our Access to Higher Education Learners. Even with…
Management Theories: The X and Y theory
Theories are the foundations that underpin great management practice. By studying management theory, we understand better the fundamental aspects that…
Tutor of the Year Awards 2020 – Access to Higher Education
Last week, Gateway Qualifications announced the winner of the inaugural Access to Higher Education Tutor of the Year Awards 2020.…
Top Three Management Problems
Written by Julia Morris, Business & Management Tutor, ACL Essex Management skills are not always something we are born…
Hair & Beauty Rainbow Competition
You may have seen that we run a Hair & Beauty Rainbow Competition to show support for our amazing National…
Self Care Facial #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
Taking care of yourself is an important part of maintaining a balanced lifestyle. Set some time aside to pamper yourself…
New Accredited courses – Enrol today!
Don’t put your dreams on hold and enrol on an Accredited Course. We have adapted our courses to be delivered…
ACL Essex tops GCSE national league table
The national league tables for GCSEs have just been released and Adult Community Learning Essex is celebrating another year of…
How will my GCSE grades be awarded this summer?
As you will be aware, the Covid-19 virus has impacted the GCSE exams that were due to take place this…
Netiquette Guide For Online Courses
It is important to recognise that the online classroom is in fact a classroom and certain behaviours are expected when…
Coronavirus latest information and advice
Update: 08/04/2020: Following the latest government guidance, we have moved from classroom-based learning to online and flexible distance learning. We…
Want to Study at Degree Level?
Regardless of your past achievements, grades, or personal circumstances, ACL could help you get there. What can you study? We…
GCSE Results Day 2019
Well done to our learner’s who are celebrating brilliant results this year. Adult learners who attend ACL Essex are celebrating…