We are able to offer readers free admission to a series of conferences which aim to breath new life in to adult education.

Tony Benn, the veteran Labour politician and campaigner, and John Denham, the skills secretary, are expected to be among the speakers at the events to be staged in London. The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education has said it will waive the pound;200 attendance fee for the conferences for those who might not otherwise be able to afford to go - because it wants to ensure lecturers and other frontline staff are involved.

The conferences are supported by FE Focus, which is running a series of articles by those closely involved with adult education.

It is hoped the conferences will create agreement about the priorities for adult education - including how it should be funded by the Government in the future.

Mr Denham has indicated that the Government is considering a rethink about adult education, including courses deemed to have been outside its priority areas.

Alan Tuckett, director of Niace and one of the Government’s closest advisers on adult education policy, has organized the conferences around the themes of the past, present and future of adult education.

Those interested in attending should contact Gurjit Kaur, Niace’s conference assistant.

Ten years of FE funding, page 7 l email gurjit.kaur@niace.org.uk or phone 0116 204 2833.

MAKE A DATE

The conferences, titled “FE in the 21st Century: What Works for Adults” will be held on November 8 and 29 and January 17 at the London Chamber of Commerce, 33 Queen Street, London EC4.

Readers who wish to contribute letters or simply want to pass on their views or ideas, should email steve.hook@tes.co.uk.