WM College: changing lives through inclusive adult education

At WM College, London adult education is not just about qualifications - it is about rebuilding confidence, restoring dignity, and creating opportunity. As one of the country’s longest-established adult education providers, we see first-hand how further education plays a critical role in widening participation, promoting social mobility, and supporting local and national skills priorities.

Many of our learners enter education through non-traditional routes, often shaped by disrupted schooling, migration, poverty, trauma, or periods of exclusion from learning. For some, re-engaging with education later in life requires extraordinary resilience. As a college, our responsibility is not simply to deliver courses, but to remove barriers and design learning that genuinely works for adults.

Meet our learners:

Stella joined WM College unable to read or write, having grown up without access to schooling in Nigeria. What she did have was ambition - a passion for food and a dream to become a chef - but without literacy, that ambition felt out of reach. Through ESOL and English provision grounded in personalised support and progression pathways, Stella gained the skills and confidence to move forward. She has since launched her own catering business, become an official Migrateful Chef, and cooked for major organisations including Sky, with appearances on national television. Her journey demonstrates how foundational learning is key to employability, enterprise, and economic participation.

Jason’s experience reflects the transformative role of adult education in rebuilding self-belief. Arriving uncertain about whether he could commit to learning, he found not only creative and mathematical development, but renewed confidence and direction. He went on to win our 170th Anniversary Mosaic Competition, building a professional portfolio and a sense of purpose. As Jason describes WM College as “a creative bootcamp and a confidence spa rolled into one,” his words capture the culture of ambition and care we strive to create.

Amir joined us after fleeing violence and experiencing homelessness. Facing PTSD and isolation, he made long journeys to attend class, determined to rebuild his life through learning. With trauma-informed teaching and consistent pastoral support, Amir passed his ESOL exams and gained practical life skills - from navigating healthcare to challenging unsafe housing conditions. Now progressing to Level 1 English, he hopes to return to ceramics, where he was once an award-winning artist.

These stories are not exceptions; they reflect a wider truth about what further education can achieve when it is properly resourced, inclusive, and learner-centred. At WM College, small class sizes, high-quality teaching, and integrated support services enable learners to stabilise their lives while building future pathways.

We believe adult education is central to a fairer economy and a stronger society. WM College is proud to be part of a sector that changes lives - one learner at a time.