Why Prison Education is a Fulfilling Career Path

For over 30 years, Novus have been providing prison education, training and support services across prison establishments in the UK and Wales.  

With over 47% of prisoners entering the prison system with no previous qualifications, it is crucial that we engage as many learners as possible in our education provision, so that they can be equipped with the tools needed to thrive upon release. 

However, in order for us to be able to provide quality education to learners, we need experienced and dedicated teachers, who are experts in their field, to equip learners with the skills and qualifications needed to thrive upon release.

A career in prison education is very rewarding with educators playing an integral role in helping to shape a learner’s education journey, equipping them with the skills and qualifications needed to be successfully rehabilitated. Read on to find out why prison education is a fulfilling career path and how you can get involved. 

Impact of prison education on rehabilitation

Research by the Ministry of Justice suggests that prisoners who had participated in education whilst in prison, were less likely to reoffend within 12 months of release. Prison education is a key contributor to a learner’s successful rehabilitation. Through education, learners can gain the skills and qualifications needed to find employment upon release and successfully reintegrate back into society.

Empowering prisoners through prison education

At Novus, teachers are able to empower prisoners and encourage them to change their lives around through the power of education.  Engaging in prison education, opens up new opportunities for prisoners whilst in prison as well as upon release, and our teachers are at the forefront of this positive change. 

Education fosters increased self-esteem

Prison education is integral to a learner’s successful rehabilitation; however, it can also foster personal development, increase self-esteem and behaviour as well as increase confidence. 

Inspiring and encouraging learners to make a positive change in their lives isn’t possible unless they believe in themselves and their abilities.  Through education, learners not only have the opportunity to develop and obtain qualifications and technical skills but are also able to develop personally and increase their self-esteem and confidence. 

If learners, who previously faced barriers to accessing education, are able to engage in prison education as well as gain new skills and qualifications, it will improve their confidence and belief in themselves and show them what they are capable of. 

Development of functional, technical and soft skills

Functional skills

In a Novus education department, learners can expect to take part in English and maths, as well as digital skills classes. These subject areas provide a basis for our learners to expand their functional skills and start their education journey. 

By improving their confidence and ability in English, maths, and essential digital skills, we help learners close their skills gaps so they can find and retain work that will keep them from re-offending post release.
 

Technical skills

Engaging in prison education, gives learners the opportunity to develop their technical skills as well as their soft skills, to enhance their chances of finding employment upon release. 

Learners have the opportunity to develop their technical skills through our vocational and training workshops. Providing learners with technical and industry-relevant skills and experience, means that learners will be able to find employment or further training upon release, in their chosen career path. 

Our qualified and experienced team of vocational teachers and trainers, help learners develop their technical skills and industry-experience, so that they're well equipped for their chosen career path. We offer a large variety of vocational training programmes so that learners are given more opportunities to enter a career that they'll enjoy and pursue once released. 
 

Soft skills 

As well as developing their functional and technical skills through education, learners are also able to obtain their ‘soft skills’ such as communication and teamwork whilst in prison to successfully re-integrate into society upon release. 

Soft skills are traits and behaviours which relate to how well an individual can work and interact with others.

They’re not specific to a particular job type, but they help employees excel in any workplace. Examples of these skills include communication, teamwork, problem-solving and creativity. 

Finding employment is about more than having the right qualifications and technical skills. In order for learners to find long-term employment and be successful in their job role, they also need to have transferable skills that will positively contribute to their employment.

Offering education, training and enrichment opportunities for learners to develop these skills not only helps learners find employment upon release, but also helps them develop their communication and social skills so that learners can successfully reintegrate back into society.
 

Working with female learners

At Novus, our teachers work with men, women and children of various abilities in establishments across the UK and Wales. The majority of the prison estate in the UK holds male prisoners, but there are also a number of female establishments and Novus operate in four of them.

Working with women in prison education is completely different but equally as rewarding, as they require an entirely different approach to engaging in education. For several years, we've been working to offer valuable projects and empowering opportunities to female prisoners, and we're conscious of the need to continue evolving on this front. 

Women have significant barriers to entry into education from shorter sentences to the lack of confidence in taking part in education. That's why we're constantly tailoring our services to support women in prison education and to be inclusive of all learners.

Many female prisoners have also often faced significant trauma before they enter prison, which can be a barrier to accessing education. In order for female learners to be successfully rehabilitated, we need to acknowledge and address this trauma. Throughout our female prison estates, our teams are trained in trauma-informed care and embed trauma-informed teaching methods into their education delivery.

There are various education programmes that we provide to women in prison, including academic and vocational courses. Since women who participate in educational programmes whilst in prison are more likely to find employment after release and less likely to reoffend, we encourage our female learners to participate in our vocational courses to gain industry specific skills, training and useful qualifications.

Qualifications like these give women independence and confidence not only helping them to find employment on release, avoiding them to re-enter the same cycles of abuse and domestic violence that most of the female prison population have experienced.

Not only are our educators able to equip learners with the skills and qualifications needed to thrive upon release, but they are also able to give our female learners their confidence and independence back, encouraging them to find a long-term career that they will enjoy as well as being able to support and provide for their families. 

Business success for former HMP Styal learner

A former learner from HMP Styal, who served a 3-year sentence managed to turn her life around for the better, thanks to the education and employability support she received whilst in prison. 

Whilst serving her sentence, the learner took part in the education provision, first attending English classes so she could get out of her cell. Whilst attending these lessons, the learner met Julie from Novus Works where they spoke about the learner’s future and employment prospects, where she expressed an interest in becoming a beautician. 

Shortly after her discussions with Julie, the learner requested to go into the Novus beauty salon, once accepted the learner worked hard and managed to achieve her Level 2 in a beauty course, a couple of months before she was released. 

However, upon release the learner lacked the confidence to pursue a career in beauty so instead decided to do some part-time work elsewhere. On her commute to work every day she walked past a beauty salon, advertising botox and filler treatments. Intrigued by the treatments, the former learner decided to take part in further training so she could be qualified in doing further beauty treatments. 

Once completing the training, the learner decided to start doing beauty treatments on people locally, from the comfort of her home. Bookings came in fast, and the learner was able to move to a bigger home with a separate beauty room. She now runs a successful beauty business thanks to the education and employability support, the former learner received from Novus and colleagues from Novus Works.

Building a community through prison education

Whilst engaging in prison education, learners have the opportunity to work and communicate with peers, fostering a sense of community amongst learners. Working alongside peers, helps learners develop their social and communication skills and shows them how to work with and alongside others which are integral skills needed to find employment upon release.  

Teaching in prison is challenging yet rewarding           

Working in a prison setting offers a challenging and dynamic work environment. Prison educators encounter diverse backgrounds, experiences and learning needs amongst learners, making each day unique and stimulating. 

Although working in prison education has its challenges, it is equally as rewarding. As a prison educator, you have a direct and tangible impact on the learners you support, helping them to become well-rounded individuals. 

Prison education career benefits

CPD to support professional development

At Novus, it is crucial that we support colleagues with their professional development, so that all colleagues are equipped with the most relevant and up-to-date skills and knowledge to educate learners. 

We offer a wide range of support, content and services to help colleagues develop in their careers and have a dedicated teaching, education and development team whose main aim is to support colleagues with their CPD.

Using Thrive Learning to enhance digital skills at HMP Stoke Heath

Following the introduction of the Thrive Learning portal, colleagues from HMP Stoke Heath started to utilise the platform to enhance their digital skills. 

Thrive Learning is the new learning platform introduced to all LTE group colleagues including Novus. The platform is designed for colleagues to take charge of their own learning giving them the freedom to select modules that will support both their personal and professional development as well as completing mandatory training assigned to them.

Through the portal, managers at HMP Stoke Heath found it easier to assign digital learning to multiple colleagues at once so that they could all take part in the digital training available.

Tutors at HMP Stoke Heath commented positively on their experience with Thrive and the digital CPD available to them, to help support their professional development. Through the support and CPD available on Thrive Learning, tutors are able to take part in the relevant digital training in order to develop their confidence and skills, which they can then incorporate in their teaching provision to support learners with their digital learning.
 

Opportunities for growth and progression

At Novus, there are plenty of opportunities to grow and excel in your career. Many of our colleagues started their careers in teaching roles in prison establishments across the UK and have since progressed into senior/leadership positions here at Novus. 

We understand that investing in colleagues so that they can progress in their careers is important and we strive to offer new opportunities to support this. 

Enjoy a healthy work/life balance

As you can’t take work home with you, our colleagues are able to enjoy a better work/life balance through a focus on flexible, mobile and agile working, and support for your mental health and well-being.

Making a real difference to the lives of learners

As a prison educator, you will have a direct and tangible impact on the learners that you support, equipping them with the skills and qualifications needed to find employment upon release and be successfully rehabilitated. 

Our colleagues are dedicated to helping learners make a positive change in their lives and turn their backs on crime, and it is making a real difference.   

If you are interested in working with Novus or would like to learn more about a career in prison education, take a look at our careers section on the website.