Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 14
14
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.
Paragraph Reference:
70
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
We accept this recommendation in principle. We accept the need for a review of the prison education framework, but it would not be feasible to complete this within the timescales provided. We are reviewing the contract management system and structure for the Prison Education Framework to ensure consistent support, advice and challenge is being provided to governors and education providers. We have also started discussions with current providers and those on the Framework about the terms of any extension. As part of the first phase of market engagement on future education contracts we held webinars with stakeholders late April/early May 2022, with over 1000 registrations to the overall programme of events. This stage of market engagement is due to be completed by July 2022. Governors currently have a reasonable amount of autonomy in how they shape provision, and they can already commission bespoke provision to meet identified prisoners needs through our dynamic purchasing system (DPS). We will ensure governors are central to the decision making in any new system. Collaboration with education providers and the New Futures Network (NFN) regarding employment will be a key part of our strategy. Governors currently have considerable autonomy in how they shape the curriculum, and they can already commission bespoke local provision to meet identified prisoners needs through our dynamic purchasing system (DPS). We are also planning for the future and will ensure governors are central to the decision making in any new system. Collaboration with education providers and the New Futures Network (NFN) regarding employment will be a key part of our strategy. As part of the first phase of market engagement on future education contracts we held webinars with stakeholders late April/early May 2022, with over 1000 registrations to the overall programme of events. This stage of market engagement is on track to be completed in July 2022. 8 Government Response: Not just another brick in the wall: why prisoners need an education to climb the ladder of opportunity