Celebrating learner's achievements at HMP Pentonville

In July, the Novus education department at HMP Pentonville hosted a successful end of year celebration event to congratulate learners on their achievements over the past 12 months. 

60 learners from various courses attended as well as prison staff, Deputy Governor, education colleagues and other education managers across London prison establishments that Novus operate in. 

The event celebrated learner achievements from various areas of the education department such as English, Maths, Barbering, Peer Mentoring, Philosophy, Criminology, Duke of Edinburgh Award, Vocalise, Launch of our Museum of London book and Urban Lawyers.

Guest speakers, musicians and a theatre company were also invited to the event to entertain the attendees, whilst also sharing the importance of prison education and how it makes a difference to learner's lives. 

The celebration event

The first outside speaker was Femi Laryea-Adekim, prison engagement co-ordinator at the Prison Reform Trust. He discussed his experience of education in Pentonville prison, and how it changed his life. Femi explained that he had been to many prisons and the Education Department at HMP Pentonville was the most unique, and advised other learners to join and sign up to the education provision. 

Shake it Up Theatre, a Shakespeare improvision company who had run sessions at HMP Pentonville in the past, also attended the event and gave a performance to attendees. The theatre company create brand-new Shakespearean-style plays on themes that the audience decide and get others there to take part.

Shake it Up offered comedy or tragedy, the audience opted for tragedy. The venue for the performance was to be Buckingham Palace, and the theme, science-fiction, and the character Chewbacca - Shakespeare does Star Wars.

His Honour Judge John Samuels, also spoke at the event. He has enjoyed a long and distinguished career, not only in the Judiciary and on the Parole Board, but with Reform Groups and others, working to ensure that prisons deliver proper rehabilitation services. 

During his speech, Judge John Samuels discussed that prison could create opportunities in unexpected ways and expressed his support for the education department at HMP Pentonville, and the hard work that goes into delivering our education provision.

To conclude the event, the presentation of the certificates was issued by the teachers to their learners, to celebrate their achievements. The learners also received a 'goodie bag' and food was then provided by the Social Enterprise Liberty Kitchen. 

The event was a huge success, with all attendees coming together to celebrate learner's achievements and the importance of prison education. A journalist from the Inside Times newspaper, who had previously completed the Creative Arts course at HMP Pentonville before being released, attended the event and wrote the below quote for the Inside Times: 

"As I left, I thought about all those who had worked so hard to achieve through those 12 months. This success is down to the belief of the education staff in the abilities of their students, too often cast aside by the school system and who have to go into prison to recognise their own potential.

Also, it is enabled by the knowledge of those students that their teachers treat them as adults and allow them to develop their skills and thrive. I strongly believe that alternatives to prison for those who would get short sentences should include a large educational input, then they would not end up inside at all."

Hosting events like this to congratulate learners on their fantastic progress is extremely important. Showing them what they can and have achieved boosts their self-confidence and inspires them to keep working hard, as well as inspiring other learners to take part in education. 

To learn more about our education provision, head over to our news section.