Kent County Council has confirmed that Adult Education classes will no longer be delivered at The Amelia Scott due to national changes to the Adult Education Budget, now the Adult Skills Fund (ASF). Management of this fund has moved from the Department for Education to the Department for Work and Pensions, and the revised criteria remove subsidised support for leisure learning and for repeat learners. The ASF is now primarily focused on developing skills for work.
Because of this, KCC has undertaken a significant refocus of its curriculum, staffing and estate, moving more provision into community venues to deliver learning ‘closer to areas of need’. Skills‑based courses will continue to be delivered in Tunbridge Wells - both at The Amelia Scott and in other community settings - for the remainder of this academic year (until July 2026).
Decisions about future venues are still being reviewed. KCC has also confirmed that no decision has yet been made regarding the specialist studios or equipment currently on site.
While the decision sits with KCC and is directly tied to national policy changes, we want to acknowledge the disappointment felt by many residents who have valued these courses for decades. KCC has begun discussions with TWBC staff about potential future uses of the vacated spaces.