Functional Skills
New light on literacy and numeracy
SUMMARY REPORT
John Bynner and Samantha Parsons
Published by the National Research and
Extracts from this publication may be
Development Centre for Adult Literacy and
used or reproduced for non-commercial,
Numeracy
research, teaching or training purposes on condition that the source is
This document is also available in pdf and
acknowledged.
text only format from the NRDC's website, www.nrdc.org.uk. It is the summary version
NRDC is a consortium of partners led by
of the project’s full report, New Light on
the Institute of Education, University of
Literacy and Numeracy, Bynner, J and
London (see back cover for a list of
Parsons, S (2006), which will be published in
members) and is part of the Bedford
November 2006.
Group for Lifecourse and Statistical
Studies at the IoE.
For information on alternative formats,
www.ioe.ac.uk/bedfordgroup
please contact:
Design: info@chapmandesign.net
Emily Brewer
Print: Redlin
Marketing and Publications Officer
Cover photo: Tom Pilston
Institute of Education
University of London
Tel: 020 7911 5501
Email: e.brewer@ioe.ac.uk
We welcome feedback on the content and accessibility of this publication.
This should be sent to:
Publications
NRDC
Institute of Education
20 Bedford Way
London WC1H 0AL.
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7612 6476
Fax: +44 (0)20 7612 6671 email: publications@nrdc.org.uk
ISBN 1-905188-20-X
©Crown Copyright 2006
New light on literacy and numeracy SUMMARY REPORT
John Bynner and Samantha Parsons
Contents
4
Introduction
7
Why don’t more adults go on courses?
11
Who has poor skills?
16
What happens to adults whose skills change over time? 20
How does dyslexia relate to problems with literacy and numeracy? 25
From generation to generation 29
What does this mean for policy and research?
33
Tables: literacy and numeracy levels
3
SUMMARY REPORT
John Bynner and Samantha Parsons
Published by the National Research and
Extracts from this publication may be
Development Centre for Adult Literacy and
used or reproduced for non-commercial,
Numeracy
research, teaching or training purposes on condition that the source is
This document is also available in pdf and
acknowledged.
text only format from the NRDC's website, www.nrdc.org.uk. It is the summary version
NRDC is a consortium of partners led by
of the project’s full report, New Light on
the Institute of Education, University of
Literacy and Numeracy, Bynner, J and
London (see back cover for a list of
Parsons, S (2006), which will be published in
members) and is part of the Bedford
November 2006.
Group for Lifecourse and Statistical
Studies at the IoE.
For information on alternative formats,
www.ioe.ac.uk/bedfordgroup
please contact:
Design: info@chapmandesign.net
Emily Brewer
Print: Redlin
Marketing and Publications Officer
Cover photo: Tom Pilston
Institute of Education
University of London
Tel: 020 7911 5501
Email: e.brewer@ioe.ac.uk
We welcome feedback on the content and accessibility of this publication.
This should be sent to:
Publications
NRDC
Institute of Education
20 Bedford Way
London WC1H 0AL.
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7612 6476
Fax: +44 (0)20 7612 6671 email: publications@nrdc.org.uk
ISBN 1-905188-20-X
©Crown Copyright 2006
New light on literacy and numeracy SUMMARY REPORT
John Bynner and Samantha Parsons
Contents
4
Introduction
7
Why don’t more adults go on courses?
11
Who has poor skills?
16
What happens to adults whose skills change over time? 20
How does dyslexia relate to problems with literacy and numeracy? 25
From generation to generation 29
What does this mean for policy and research?
33
Tables: literacy and numeracy levels
3