Ofsted has published new guidance and a toolkit for inspecting education, skills training, and work in prisons and young offender institutions (YOIs) across England. These changes fall under a renewed education inspection framework.
The updated inspections will feature higher expectations for prison education and skills training, aligning them with standards seen in further education and skills provision within the community. A new inclusion evaluation area will assess how providers address the diverse barriers prisoners may face in engaging with education, training, and work.
There will also be a strengthened focus on improving literacy and teaching reading for prisoners who require it, aiming to better equip them for learning and future employment. Furthermore, inspections will ensure prisons provide employability skills relevant to the labour market and employer needs.
The previous overall effectiveness grade has been removed. Instead, inspections will now provide more detailed grading across five evaluation areas: Inclusion, Leadership and governance, Curriculum, teaching and training, Achievement, and Participation and development. Each area will receive one of five grades: Exceptional, Strong standard, Met standard, Needs attention, or Urgent improvement.
Sir Martyn Oliver, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, stated that high-quality education is vital for supporting prisoners to become productive members of society upon release. He added that improving literacy would allow prisoners to access a wider curriculum and prepare for life after prison.