The importance of improving the education level of prisoners

For over 30 years we have been working with prisons across the UK and Wales to provide education to prisoners of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Many prisoners enter prison with no prior qualification so, it’s crucial that we engage learners in education whilst in prison. 

Our specialist teams of education professionals help adults and young offenders develop the skills and confidence needed to find employment upon release and become successfully rehabilitated.

Average education level of prisoners in the UK

According to research conducted by the Ministry of Justice an estimated 47% of individuals entering prison have no prior qualifications. Without the right qualifications, prisoners will find it difficult to find employment upon release putting them at risk of turning back to a life of crime and reoffending upon release. 

Which is why, we engage as many prisoners as possible in our education provision so that they can gain the skills and qualifications needed to find employment upon release and become successfully rehabilitated. 

Low education levels

However, alongside having no qualifications the majority of learners also have low education levels which can make it difficult to engage learners in education. For example, many individuals in custody have low levels in fundamental skills such as English and maths.

Research conducted by the MOJ indicates that 57% of adult prisoners taking initial assessments had literacy levels below those expected of an 11-year-old, highlighting the need for education so that prisoners can be equipped with the fundamental skills needed to function as a member of society. 

Neurodiverse needs

Many individuals who are sent to prison have neurodiverse needs, which have presented as a barrier to education in early life as well as in prison. With over 30% of learners having learning difficulties and/or disabilities, it is crucial that our education provision meets the individual needs of each learner. 

At Novus we are dedicated to tailoring our education services so that all learners, can access the education and support that they need to gain the skills and qualifications which will help them find employment upon release.
 

How does education link to crime?

According to Government research, ‘young adults who received custodial sentences had lower levels of educational attainment’ and ‘more than half (52.5%) of young adults who received custodial sentences had been persistently absent during school’. 

It is clear that there is a direct link from poor education experiences in childhood to criminal behaviour in later life, highlighting the importance of education. Whilst in prison, learners need to be able to gain the qualifications and skills they missed out on achieving in school as children, so that they can be successfully rehabilitated and rejoin society as well-rounded individuals ready to give back to their community. 

How can education support the rehabilitation of learners 

Research conducted by the Ministry of Justice found that people who had participated in education whilst in prison were less likely to reoffend within 12 months of release than those who had not.

Prison education plays a key role in reducing reoffending and helping learners find employment upon release, which is why we try to engage as many prisoners as possible in our education offer.

With many learners entering custody with no qualifications, low education levels and poor previous experiences in education, it is crucial that we engage them in a way that meets their individual needs so that they can be equipped with the qualifications and skills needed to find employment upon release.

English, maths and digital skills

English, maths and digital skills are essential skills needed to find employment upon release and be successfully rehabilitated. These skills make up the fundamental pillars of our education offer, and we are dedicated to ensuring all learners are equipped with the qualifications needed to be successful upon release. 

By improving learner’s confidence and ability in English, maths and essential digital skills, we help them close their skills gaps so they can find and retain work that keep them from reoffending post release. 

Vocational and technical training

Our vocational and technical training provision provides learners with the industry-relevant skills and experience needed for their chosen career path, helping learners to move into work or further training upon release. 

Our vocational provision varies from prison to prison but some of the main vocational courses that we offer include:

• Hair and Beauty
• Barbering
• Catering
• Bricklaying
• Engineering
• Gardening

Learners work towards nationally recognised qualifications, with embedded English, maths and employability skills available for those learners who need extra support, so they can develop a holistic skill set required by employers. 

Creative enrichment

Our creative enrichment provision is integral to allowing us to provide a broad curriculum offer, enabling us to enrich learner’s education experiences and deliver quality opportunities. 

Creative enrichment gives learners another opportunity to engage in education in new ways, often those who have had a bad relationship with education i.e., bad experiences in school or lack of support when in the education system at a young age. 

Engaging learners through creative enrichment projects and initiatives, helps them build positive relationships and a joy for education, inspiring them to continue their education journey and gaining the relevant skills and qualifications needed to be successfully rehabilitated upon release. 

Employment support 

Studies show that prison leavers who find a job after release are less likely to reoffend however, finding employment opportunities as an ex-offender can be incredible challenging for several reasons such as stigmas associated with a criminal record, lack of education, lack of employment support and poor mental health. 

In order to break down these barriers, learners need to be equipped with the qualifications, experience and knowledge needed to find long-term employment upon release. 

As well as our education provision, we also offer employment support for learners either through our Novus Works team or by working with the prison employment leads. Our experienced teams provide a wide range of related support to help learners develop their employability skills. 

Our employment support includes:

• CV advice and guidance
• Job searching and application help
• Guidance on disclosure
• Interview preparation and performance

Our prison education provision, programmes and initiatives are integral to the successful rehabilitation of offenders, to learn more about what we do as an education provider, take a look at the news section.