Top graduates will be drafted in to teach in prisons as part of a major shake-up of education behind bars announced today by Michael Gove.
The Justice Secretary will also give prison governors full control of the curriculum in their jail and each inmate will have a personalised learning plan.
The aim is to improve rehabilitation and ensure more prisoners get skills to help them find jobs and keep away from crime after their release.
The plans, unveiled today in the Queen’s Speech, follow a review of prison education by former headteacher Dame Sally Coates and a string of inspectors’ reports over the years which have highlighted low standards of teaching in jails.
Mr Gove said graduate teachers, recruited to work in prisons under a new “fast-track” scheme, would inspire inmates and provide high-quality education. He added: “Dame Sally’s superb review makes a compelling case for change.
“The current standard of education in prisons is not good enough. Quality is patchy, prisoners are not being given the skills and knowledge they need to find jobs.”
Only one in four prisoners get jobs after their release.
