Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 71
We have concerns about whether the Prison Education Framework contracts are able to deliver the...
Recommendation
We have concerns about whether the Prison Education Framework contracts are able to deliver the improvement in prison education that is desperately needed. The Government must carry out a wholesale review of the current prison education framework by the end of 2022, with a view to improving the current contract structure, before the contracts are considered for extension in 2023. The review should examine how the contracts could be improved to encourage partnership working, how to ensure that Governors have the autonomy to choose their education providers and to work with the further education sector, and how to develop a focus on engaging with local employers, including SMEs.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government accepts the recommendation in principle and states that they want governors to be more involved in performance discussions with education providers, and specialist trained staff will support them in managing the prison education contracts.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
71
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government · verbatim extract
Acknowledged
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
Read the full response on Parliament ↗