Ofsted has published a new toolkit and guidance for inspecting
education, skills training and work in prisons and young offender
institutions (YOIs) in England under the renewed education
inspection framework.
The changes to inspection under the renewed framework include:
-
higher expectations for prison education and skills training,
which reflect standards of further education and skills
provision in the community.
-
a new inclusion evaluation area, focused on how providers
overcome the diverse range of barriers prisoners can face to
engaging in education, skills training and work.
-
a strengthened focus on teaching reading and improving
literacy for prisoners who need it, to equip them to learn
and to enter the workforce on release.
-
ensuring that prisons give prisoners the employability skills
they need to enter work, and skills training that responds to
labour market and employer need.
-
the removal of the overall effectiveness grade and
introduction of more granular and nuanced grading across 5
evaluation areas.
Read the guidance: Inspecting education,
skills training and work in prisons and YOIs: toolkit, operating
guide and information
As with the other education provision Ofsted inspects, particular
attention will be given to the experiences, outcomes and barriers
to learning, work and/or wellbeing of; those who have special
educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including needs
related to neurodiversity; and those with other support needs.
Sir Martyn Oliver, Ofsted's Chief Inspector, said:
High-quality education plays a vital role in supporting prisoners
to become productive and engaged members of society upon their
release. Improving literacy for prisoners will allow them to
access a much wider curriculum and help them prepare for life
after prison.
Our renewed framework for inspections of prison education will
drive a stronger focus on ensuring all prisoners, no matter what
barriers to learning they face, benefit from excellent education,
skills and work.
Prison and YOI
inspections will consider 5 evaluation areas:
- Inclusion
- Leadership and governance
- Curriculum, teaching and training
- Achievement
- Participation and development
Each evaluation area will receive one of 5 grades:
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Met standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
Notes to editors:
-
Inspections under this framework will begin on 21 September
2026.
-
These inspections are conducted as part of joint inspections
led by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP).
-
Findings from Ofsted's inspections will contribute to the
purposeful activity' section of HMIP
inspection reports.
