Croydon Council Considers Outsourcing CALAT Adult Learning Service Croydon 2026

Key Points:

• Croydon Council is considering a proposal to alter how Croydon Adult Learning and Training (CALAT) delivers its educational services across the borough.
• An independent review commissioned by the council evaluated four potential delivery models, identifying opportunities to enhance educational offerings and ensure long-term financial viability.
• Under the proposed model, external specialist providers would deliver courses, whilst Croydon Council would retain ultimate oversight and set local educational priorities.
• The council’s Cabinet is scheduled to discuss whether to approve a public consultation regarding the proposal on 14 October 2026.
• The public announcement does not confirm any service transfer, staff redundancies, or procurement timelines, as no final decision has been made.
• An ongoing relocation of CALAT classes from Croydon Clocktower to Strand House in Thornton Heath is an entirely separate operational decision taking place during October 2026.

Croydon (South London News) October 9, 2026 – Croydon Council is formally evaluating a major proposal to restructure the delivery of its local adult learning services, which could see external specialist providers brought in to teach courses whilst the local authority retains oversight of local priorities and strategy.

The proposal concerns Croydon Adult Learning and Training (CALAT), a key local service providing academic, vocational, and recreational courses across the borough. The recommendation stems from an independent review commissioned by Croydon Council to analyze four distinct potential models for organizing adult learning. Whilst the review recognized the strong existing work of CALAT, it identified key areas where the service could enhance its curriculum and strengthen long-term financial sustainability. The local authority’s Cabinet is set to consider whether to launch a public consultation on the recommendation during its upcoming meeting on 14 October 2026.

What Is the Current Proposal Before the Croydon Council Cabinet?

The primary matter before Croydon Council’s Cabinet on 14 October 2026 is whether to authorize a formal public consultation regarding the future delivery model of CALAT. The proposal under consideration suggests commissioning specialist external organizations to deliver adult education courses on behalf of the local authority.

Crucially, the proposal does not represent a final decision to outsource or transfer the service. If Cabinet approves the recommendation to consult, residents, current adult learners, and staff members will be invited to submit their feedback. Croydon Council has stated that it will thoroughly analyze all consultation responses before making any definitive decision on the service’s future.

Under the delivery model being explored, Croydon Council would maintain statutory responsibility for setting local priorities and supervising service quality. The council believes that specialist educational organizations could bring targeted expertise to specific subject areas, with the objective of expanding qualification offerings and improving educational outcomes for borough residents. At present, the council has not appointed any external providers, established a procurement timetable, or finalized any structural changes.

The item is listed on the council’s forward plan as a key decision for the Cabinet meeting on 14 October 2026. The official plan notes that the accompanying report regarding CALAT’s future is partly exempt from public disclosure, meaning specific background documents and financial metrics remain confidential. Therefore, the upcoming Cabinet discussion serves as an essential procedural step to determine whether public consultation will occur, rather than a confirmation of outsourcing.

How Will the Recommendation Affect CALAT Staff and Current Learners?

Croydon Council has confirmed that staff members and current learners have been notified about the recommendation heading to Cabinet. Should the Cabinet authorize the consultation process, employees will be explicitly encouraged to participate and share their views.

The public announcement issued by the council does not confirm any staff redundancies, transfer dates, or external partner appointments. Local authority leaders have emphasized that employment outcomes and staffing arrangements should not be treated as settled while the delivery model remains a preliminary proposal.

Croydon Council frames the potential shift as a strategy to broaden educational opportunities and guarantee that adult education remains affordable over the long term. Any specific staffing frameworks or employment arrangements will depend entirely on the decision reached following Cabinet deliberation and the outcome of any subsequent consultation.

CALAT currently represents a significant educational operation within the borough, delivering more than 1,000 part-time courses to over 20,000 residents annually across more than 40 local venues. Its broader curriculum spans multiple disciplines, including:

• Academic and pre-vocational qualifications
• Vocational training and workplace skill development
• English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
• English and mathematics foundational courses
• Essential digital skills training
• Recreational and community learning programs

Is the CALAT Venue Move Related to the Outsourcing Proposal?

Croydon Council has clarified that the ongoing relocation of CALAT classes from the Croydon Clocktower to Strand House in Thornton Heath is entirely separate from the long-term delivery model proposal.

The physical move to Strand House, scheduled throughout October 2026, was planned as part of the council’s broader property strategy to make better operational use of its corporate real estate assets. While the majority of courses are shifting to Thornton Heath, select adult education classes will continue to be hosted in central Croydon locations. Council officials stress that this venue transition is already underway and should not be confused with the strategic outsourcing proposal being presented to Cabinet.

Regarding the overall review, the independent assessment evaluated four separate operational options for CALAT. However, the council’s public statement does not publish the complete evaluation of each alternative. It confirms only that the independent review recommended commissioning specialist providers while retaining overall local authority oversight. Until Cabinet votes, consultation occurs, and responses are fully evaluated, the long-term governance structure and its precise effects on learners and staff remain undetermined.

Background of This Particular Development

Croydon Council’s re-evaluation of its adult learning provision occurs against a broader backdrop of fiscal discipline and operational reviews across local government services in the United Kingdom. Local authorities nationwide have increasingly scrutinized discretionary and community-facing services to balance municipal budgets while attempting to preserve core public provisions.

CALAT has historically served as one of the largest local authority-run adult education services in South London, providing essential access to skills retraining, language acquisition, and personal development for thousands of borough residents every year. However, maintaining extensive direct delivery models across dozens of venues presents ongoing operational and financial challenges for local councils.

The decision to commission an independent review reflects a wider municipal trend towards “commissioning models,” where local councils step back from direct service delivery and instead act as strategic commissioners. Under this framework, councils maintain control over statutory objectives, local funding distribution, and quality assurance, while third-sector or private specialist providers handle day-to-day teaching and operational logistics.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect the Particular Audience

The proposed changes to CALAT stand to impact three primary groups within the London Borough of Croydon: local adult learners, council staff, and the broader taxpayer community.

1. Impact on Adult Learners and Residents

If Croydon Council eventually proceeds with commissioning specialist providers, adult learners may gain access to a wider variety of specialized vocational courses and modern digital learning platforms. External specialist organizations often bring industry links and dedicated training infrastructure that can enhance employment outcomes. However, learners may also experience shifts in course locations, alterations to fee structures for non-funded recreational courses, or changes in familiar teaching staff as new organizations assume operational control.

2. Impact on CALAT Teaching and Administrative Staff

For current employees, the proposal introduces a period of operational uncertainty. If the council eventually votes to outsource provision following consultation, staff could face transfer processes under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations (TUPE) to incoming external providers. While TUPE regulations protect existing terms and conditions at the point of transfer, longer-term considerations regarding pensions, working conditions, and organizational structure would depend heavily on the specific agreements negotiated between the council and prospective providers.

3. Impact on Croydon Council and Local Taxpayers

From a municipal and budgetary perspective, transitioning to a commissioned delivery model is designed to shield the council from direct operational overheads while maintaining crucial educational resources within the borough. If implemented effectively, the strategy could secure the long-term financial viability of adult education in Croydon without sacrificing oversight of local skill priorities. Conversely, the council will need to ensure robust contract management to maintain high teaching standards across all commissioned external partners.