Home > News > June 2004 > 17-Jun-2004

National Learner Satisfaction Survey - sector reports published

The Learning and Skills Council has released the full results of the National Learner Satisfaction Survey 2002/03. Three sector reports, covering work-based learning, FE colleges and adult & community learning respectively, have been published along with the technical data.

The independently-run NOP World survey polled the opinion of over 25,000 people, and the results were remarkably consistent across the sectors, giving an overall satisfaction rating of around 90%. The headline results indicate:

• At least 89% satisfied with the quality of teaching and training
• Around 75% of learners who previously had negative attitudes to education say it now gives them 'a buzz'.

Additionally, more than 50% of people answering the survey reported:

• Greater enthusiasm for the subject
• More social confidence
• More confidence in their ability to learn
• More positive feelings about learning than when they started the course

Areas for action

In addition to highlighting the positives, the survey also identifies a number of areas for action. These are also consistent across the sectors, and are as follows:

• Quality of teaching and particularly of time usage in the classroom

The quality of teaching is the most important factor driving learner satisfaction. Learners respond well to enthusiastic teachers or trainers and value feedback on their progress and achievements. Whilst 89% are satisfied with the quality of teaching and training, too many learners - over 50% - still feel that session time has been wasted in classes.

The main reasons given for wasted time are in the work-based learning report were:

• other learners arriving late (63 per cent)
• other learners making a noise or disrupting class (39 per cent)
• being left hanging around with nothing to do (36 per cent)
• trainers or tutors arriving late (28 per cent)
• lessons finishing early (26 per cent)
• lessons being badly planned or disorganised (24 per cent)

• Support in choosing the right course and pre-entry advice and guidance

Supply needs to meet demand so that as many learners as possible get their first choice of provider and good advice when choosing their courses

• Support levels right through the learning process

Identifying and responding to learners experiencing difficulties as soon as possible was found to be vitally important not only in keeping learners happy but in keeping them on board

• The quality of facilities needs to be a priority: first class facilities are important for more than aesthetic reasons

Facilities for socialising have a strong impact on the results for many learners. Unfortunately, these often have low ratings.

LSC Director of Learning Caroline Neville commented: "Above all, quality is the key issue. Excellent as these results are, we are never complacent, and we and our partners will continue to push to drive up standards in every area."

The results of the National Learner Satisfaction Survey 2002/03, along with the methodology, are available from the LSC web site.

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