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Prison Teaching

Last post 26/01/12 at 11:45 by kad2, 11 replies
Post started by iwantanoddingbuster on 13/07/08 at 18:28

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  • iwantanoddingbuster avatar
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    Posted by: iwantanoddingbuster 13/07/2008 at 18:28
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    Has anyone got any worthwhile experience to share about teaching in prisons? I'm seriously considering it as a "change" from what I'm doing at the minute (working in FE).

    Anyone?
  • anon527 avatar
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    Posted by: anon527 13/07/2008 at 20:08
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    Hello iwantanoddingbuster

    if you want further info and job vacancies, the prison service operates an email service informing of the latest vacancy. Sign up via their website as an "Instructor". They do recognize the PGCE PCET, or did when I enquired earlier this year.

    Hope this helps.
  • webfoot avatar
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    Posted by: webfoot 13/07/2008 at 20:18
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    Hi. I do it, and I love it; I'm employed by a college. Be warned you get all the FE bureaucracy PLUS all the prison service bureaucracy too (though we are not directly employed by them.) There is a vast difference across the secure estate, from Young Offenders, to max security stuff, women, men, various categories... you must visit first to get a feel for it. Some people get freaked once they are locked in. (and it can take a while to sort the clearance for a visit!).

    Various colleges have open days when you can talk to staff about it. Look up "Offender Learning." We still get buffeted by all the usual changes and whatnot in FE though, and it can be frustrating, but I find it always interesting and rewarding. Pay seems to be lower than general FE I think. As usual, sessional hourly-paid is the way in, but there is an advantage over other FE in that we work all summer if we want, as provision is 50 weeks of the year.
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    Posted by: zinzan 13/07/2008 at 20:50
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    Chances are you'll be employed by one of a few large FE colleges. City College Manchester has one of the biggest contracts for prison education. Some of the vocational stuff is delivered by home office employed staff, but many of them have moved over to employment by the colleges. All Prison education and training is now LSC funded
    Can be rewarding - retention of staff is generally pretty good. Depends what you want to teach. Lots of basic skills, art.
    Jobs often advertised in the TES. Retention of prisoners (offenders) is not as good as you'd expect. People often frustratingly leave for another prison or get released when close to completing
  • Miss Pious avatar
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    Posted by: Miss Pious 29/04/2010 at 16:47
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    zinzan:
    Chances are you'll be employed by one of a few large FE colleges. City College Manchester has one of the biggest contracts for prison education. Some of the vocational stuff is delivered by home office employed staff, but many of them have moved over to employment by the colleges. All Prison education and training is now LSC funded
    Can be rewarding - retention of staff is generally pretty good. Depends what you want to teach. Lots of basic skills, art.
    Jobs often advertised in the TES. Retention of prisoners (offenders) is not as good as you'd expect. People often frustratingly leave for another prison or get released when close to completing

    I know that this is an old thread, but can you tell me if working with young offenders, does one need QTLS? Or does QTS suffice?
  • MrJob avatar
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    Posted by: MrJob 30/04/2010 at 14:56
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    A few points to consider:

    - The Manchester College (formerley City College Manchester) is by far the largest provider of offender learrning.

    - The Manchester College is currently in the process of making 250 (full-time equivalent) staff redundant.

    http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1189997_manchester_college_to_axe_300_workers

    - The Manchester College is currently trying to significantly reduce holidays and sickness benefits for all it's prison staff.

    http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1842     (See UCU Branch letter).

     - The LSC has now closed and The Funding Skills Agency now funds education in adult prisons (21+ age group).

     

    All information given here is already in the public domain.

     
  • 80Redwine90 avatar
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    Posted by: 80Redwine90 20/08/2011 at 21:27
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     Don't bother, bullying is intollerable.
  • 80Redwine90 avatar
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    Posted by: 80Redwine90 20/08/2011 at 21:48
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     The top man Peter Tavenor awarded himself a 10% pay rise before advising prison staff that they could not have any rise.  Tavenor does not care about the people who work form him, least of all the prison educators who face discrimination, bulling and persecution.  The people who should deal with this don't, and management continue to enjoy bullying, nepotism and now watching the staff hitting each other for a space on a table!

  • YOI_Teacher avatar
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    Posted by: YOI_Teacher 21/08/2011 at 08:48
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    80Redwine90:

     Don't bother, bullying is intollerable.

    Can you expand upon this?

    Do you mean with regards the students or the staff?
  • YOI_Teacher avatar
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    Posted by: YOI_Teacher 21/08/2011 at 09:05
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    Not sure why but my original message didn't get sent last night as I intended!

    80Redwine90:

     The top man Peter Tavenor awarded himself a 10% pay rise before advising prison staff that they could not have any rise.  Tavenor does not care about the people who work form him, least of all the prison educators who face discrimination, bulling and persecution.  The people who should deal with this don't, and management continue to enjoy bullying, nepotism and now watching the staff hitting each other for a space on a table!

    Prison education is funded differently - as a result of OLASS...

    Thus any pay rises prison staff have or don't have is nothing to do with the teaching side as that is decided 3-5 years before when the contracts were agreed. Poor pay/conditions that nay teacher suffers would be due to the education contractor/provider.

    Some providers are not great - though have to say mine is amazing! Certainly whenever I meet staff from other prisons it is clear which providers are doing well by the staff and students! Perhaps you need to consider changing provider/prison.

    One provider has had a lot of problems and caused a lot, subject to fraud investigations and staff have at times walked out etc. But one provider is not the whole prison sector!

    If you have suffered from what you have perceived as discrimination/bullying/persecution I hope that you have followed the correct procedures andmade formal complaints - that would then be dealt with the education providers superiors that are not located within the prison. If you haven't, then how can you expect things to change?

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