About this subject
Build your confidence with English at work or home. We can help you improve your English language skills so that you can study or find work.
If you have struggled at school or new to the UK, our supportive tutors and small class sizes will help you succeed. Our free courses are held face-to-face and online so your education can fit in with your busy life.
We offer qualifications from entry 3 to GCSE. They include English Stepping Stones, Functional Skills, and GCSE English.
In 2023, we had a English Language GCSE pass rate of 98.3%.
Get the qualification you need for your future.
If English is not your first language you may be interested in English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), English for HongKongers or English for Ukranians
Course Levels
- Entry 3 - Preparation for Functional Skills English - will help you progress to a functional skills course
- Level 1 - Functional Skills English qualification will help you progress to GCSE English
- GCSE English - this qualification will give you further educational and employment opportunities
Preparation for Functional Skills English
This is a free course for people with basic literacy skills. Courses start in September and run for 12 weeks to December.
You can progress to English Functional Skills then to GCSE English.
We hold courses online and in person at one of our centres. The centres are in: Guildford, Woking, Camberley, Sunbury, and Molesey
For information about our centres and parking, visit our centre information page
English courses are free for adults aged 19 and over on 31 August 2023 who do not already hold a GCSE qualification (grades A to D, 3 to 9) and who meet the standard eligibility criteria.
Complete expression of interest form
Functional Skills
Functional Skills is a free qualification for people with basic literacy skills. The courses are 22 weeks long which run from January to July.
You can progress to GCSE English.
We hold courses online and in person at one of our centres. The centres are in: Guildford, Woking, Camberley, Sunbury, and Molesey. To ensure you can attend exams, we advise you live within a 30 to 40 minute travel distance from one of our centres. The centres are in: Guildford, Woking, Camberley, Sunbury, and Molesey
You can find more information about the Functional Skills qualification on the Functional Skills course description
Complete expression of interest form
GCSE English
For an English GCSE, you will develop skills over one year. These skills will include speaking, listening, reading, and writing to communicate with others confidently and effectively.
You will study a range of texts including fiction and non-fiction and the two final exams will test your reading of unseen texts and extended writing.
We offer an un-tiered course (not split into foundation and higher levels) and you will sit two exams at the end of the academic year in June. You will be able to progress onto further education and employment.
You can find more information about GCES English on the GCSE English course descriptions
Complete expression of interest form
Eligibility Criteria
Maths, English and ESOL classes at Surrey Adult Learning are free for adults aged 19 or over on the 31 August 2023 who meet the following eligibility criteria. You must also be able to easily travel to an agreed Surrey Adult Learning centre to sit exams/assessments where applicable.
UK nationals - Who currently live in England and have been resident in the United Kingdom (UK) for at least three full years prior to starting their course.
EEA nationals - Who currently live in England and have obtained either pre-settled or settled status under the EU settlement scheme and have lived continuously in the EEA, Gibraltar or UK for at least the three full years prior to starting their course.
Other non-UK Nationals who are also a non-EEA national - Who currently live in England and have obtained either pre-settled or settled status under the EU settlement scheme and have lived continuously in the EEA, Gibraltar or UK for at least the three full years prior to starting their course.
Asylum seekers - Who have lived in the UK for 6 months or longer while their claim is being considered by the Home Office.
You will be exempt from the three-year residency requirement if you have:
- Refugee status
- Discretionary leave to enter or remain
- Exceptional leave to enter or remain
- Indefinite leave to enter or remain
- Humanitarian protection
- Leave outside the rules
- Ukraine family scheme
- Ukraine sponsorship scheme (Homes for Ukraine)
- The husband, wife, civil partner or child (aged 19 or over) of an individual with any of the above
- Section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 leave
- Calais leave to remain
- British Nationals evacuated from Afghanistan under operation pitting
- British Nationals evacuated from Afghanistan by UK government before 6 January 2022
Other exemptions may apply.
Depending upon your circumstances, we will need to see ID and proof of your immigration status, and for ESOL courses, we will need to see receipt of benefits and income when you enrol.
If you are not eligible for a free course under the above criteria, you may need to pay a fee. For more information and advice please email: adultskills@surreycc.gov.uk
