Issues for discussion at the DFES Select
Committee evidence session 8 February 2005
Evidence from 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 C.O.V.E. status
· Currently hold contracts to deliver to
11 prisons/YOl in the South West — the third largest provider
of prison education in the U.K.
· 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 —
- 4 years part-time evening teacher
- 6 years education manager in a Borstal (YOI)
- 25 years in Prison Service on Grade 7 in H.Q.
Education Branch and Regional Office
- 6 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 8 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 — 2004
· 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 2 weeks
· Monthly meetings
of education managers (¼ business, ¼training)
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
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