Memorandum submitted by Peter Blunt, Director,
Prison Education Services, Strode College, Somerset
BACKGROUND
— Strode College has 27 years experience
of delivering education/training to offenders in custody. College
has Beacon and COVE status.
— Currently hold contracts to deliver to
11 prisons/YOl in the South West—the third largest provider
of prison education in the UK.
— Employs 300 staff to deliver, manage
and back up the services.
— Won Beacon Award for Prison Education.
— The Director has spent 42 years in
prison education:
— four years part-time evening teacher;
— six years education manager in a Borstal
(YOI);
— 25 years in Prison Service on Grade 7
in HQ Education Branch and Regional Office; and
— six years as Director of Prison Education
at Strode College.
STAFFING ISSUES
— Not a problem because of the following
action taken by the College.
— "Home grown" teachers through
long standing link with University of Plymouth. Joint recruitment
of mature students to PGCE/Cert Ed courses based in eight of our
prisons.
— Bursary scheme: 80 teachers given
40 hours of paid time to either shadow or teach.
— Open evenings/displays.
RETENTION
— Mainly due to poor working environment
(accommodation, equipment/materials—retention is less good
in urban areas (Bristol).
TRAINING
— College has a large training programme
published/revised every six months for prison staff. Based on
lesson observations, SARs, ALl reports, changes in policy, new
courses.
TARGETS
— We believe these to be necessary,
They focus learners, teachers and prison managers. However, they
have the effect of narrowing the curriculum and reducing progression
routes to higher level courses (beyond level 2). The KPTs are
very often unrealistic and are imposed on the prison without negotiation
with contractors who know the ability of learners.
GOOD PRACTICE
— Recruitment/training—Bursary
and PGCE/CertEd.
— Access to HE courses leading to high
level take up of University places on release.
— Community Art Exhibitions for the
South West.
— Through the gate mentoring scheme
(contract worth £370k with Somerset LSC for prisoners serving
less than 12 months); below level 2 in basic skills and returning
to Somerset. Also similar schemes in Bristol 2002-04.
— IAG provision in most prisons. Three
of our prisons were the first nationally to gain the Matrix accreditation.
Strode College has appointed a regional IAG development officer
to assist the remaining prisons in achieving Matrix.
— Contracts with other organisations
to give "added value" to provision in prisons.
— Regular senior manager visits to
every prison at least every two weeks.
— Monthly meetings of education managers
(business, training).
IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED
— Accommodation in many prisons is
not fit for purpose. Specialist rooms for arts/crafts/cookery/vocational
training is non existent in some prisons. "Art" rooms
exist without running water!
— Capital—The expansion of learning
and skills cannot take place in most prisons without significant
provision of additional teaching accommodation.
ALT consistently report on poor equipment, materials
and accommodation.
Contractors are not consulted on bids for equipment,
materials and accreditation fees. Allocations are based on historical
data. Considerably underfunded.
— ILPs—use of these is now embedded
in the South West but transfer of these in and out of prison is
very patchy. An electronic system is becoming an urgent priority.
— Involvement of LSC—This is
very much welcomed— especially the integration of learning
and skills for all offenders both in custody and in the community.
Prototype has been introduced in the South West with indecent
haste!
— Creation of inmate businesses as
"action learning". Prisoners to implement business plan
created during the Firm Start (Setting up your own business) Course.
|
