Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 70
The quality of prison education is of huge concern and has been deemed “inadequate”.
Recommendation
The quality of prison education is of huge concern and has been deemed “inadequate”. The vision of Governor autonomy, as set out by the Coates Review, has not been realised by the new contracts and we are disappointed that the new contractual arrangements resulted in the same four educational providers being appointed. The new contracts were meant to encourage partnership between prisons, prison educators, the further education sector and the voluntary sector, but in practice bureaucratic contracts undermine this vision and make educational provision transactional, rather than rooted in the needs of the individual and the local area. The Government must ensure that there is a greater emphasis on working with the Further Education sector.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government accepts the need for a review of the prison education framework in principle, but it would not be feasible to complete this within the timescales provided; they are reviewing the contract management system and structure for the Prison Education Framework.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
70
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government · verbatim extract
Acknowledged
We accept this recommendation. The government has taken significant steps in giving governors autonomy in this and other areas: since the budget for prison education was moved to MoJ from DfE, governors are now responsible for setting the curriculum, and, through the introduction of the Dynamic Purchasing System, they can purchase bespoke local provision and have local plans in place with providers: the DPS has shown success at creating diverse contracts at local level. Government Response: Not just another brick in the wall: why prisoners need an education 7 to climb the ladder of opportunity We recognise the challenge of getting commercial arrangements right so that we can hold providers to account while at the same time allowing them the flexibility to shape provision which best meets the needs of learners. We are keen to go further as part of our reforms, and are introducing Heads of Education, Skills and Work to support Governors to deliver improvements in education with their providers. We are also engaging with the DfE FE Commissioner, and through ongoing market engagement, participation is being encouraged from a wide range of providers across the learning and skills sector, including FE.
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