Boom in demand for evening classes as Ipswich Institute announces expanded programme
The Ipswich Institute in Tavern Street has reported a boom in evening class take-ups. Picture: LUCY TAYLOR
Demand for leisure learning and evening classes has soared according to the Ipswich Institute, after it wrapped up its autumn programme with a record number of learners.
General Manager of the Ipswich Institute, Hugh Pierce, said Japanese classes had been popular with younger people. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN
The institute, based in Tavern Street, Ipswich, regularly runs evening and leisure classes across a host of different disciplines including languages, art, history, music and photography.
After a surge in demand over the autumn, the Ipswich Institute has reported that it had to increase its classes to four nights a week as a record 240 enrolments were logged.
The venue is already looking at similar numbers for its spring 2018 programme.
General manager Hugh Pierce said: “We’ve been delighted at the response we’ve had to our newly expanded course programme and are running close to full capacity.
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“We have many learners who keep coming back for more but we always welcome new students.
“I think there’s a ‘baby boomer’ effect, with many of that generation in or close to retirement and wanting to keep their minds active.
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“But there is also the sociability of learning together which people find attractive – without the pressures of exams and a rigid curriculum.”
The institute said its beginner language classes had proved exceptionally popular, with Japanese classes in particular proving a hit with younger students.
The next 10-week run of
courses kicks off in the second week of January with 19 courses on hand,
Among the 2018 courses are ukulele for beginners, guitar for improvers, life drawing, sketch booking, photography, print making, and various levels of German, Italian, French, Spanish and Japanese.
The institute has also received a host of emails with positive feedback from its courses in the last 10 weeks.
One learner said: “I am enjoying attending some day time courses at the Institute and using the lending library. All the staff are friendly and helpful and it’s a very welcoming place with excellent facilities, and exemplary communications.”
Another added: “We are so lucky to have the facilities of the Institute in Ipswich and such excellent staff – there is nothing like it I know of elsewhere.”
To sign up and see the full list of courses visit the website here.
