Derbyshire County Council has announced the closure of five adult education centres, citing rapid changes to grant conditions and funding allocations. The affected centres are Ashbourne Adult Education Centre, Derbyshire Eco Centre near Wirksworth, Community House in Long Eaton, The Ritz in Matlock, and Shirebrook Adult Education Centre.
The decision follows the council’s earlier closure of centres in Alfreton and Glossop. The council indicated the moves respond to the reallocation of most adult education funding to the East Midlands Mayoral Strategic Authority. No public consultation has been scheduled for these closures.
The closures will impact 1,337 learners. The total annual cost of operating the five centres was £1.044m, averaging £1,050 per learner. Costs varied by location, from £498 per learner at the Eco Centre to £1,462 at Community House in Long Eaton.
The council plans to continue offering adult education courses through its remaining ten centres and is reviewing potential future uses for the vacated properties, including sale or lease. A full review of adult education services and stakeholder consultation is expected to take place in the autumn.
The Department for Education has transferred Derbyshire’s adult skills funding to the regional authority as part of a wider strategy to devolve decision-making to local bodies. Nationally, the Adult Skills Fund will provide over £1.4bn in 2025-26, supporting initiatives such as Technical Excellence Colleges.
