This report presents an evaluation of a Learning Together partnership between Open Book at Goldsmiths, University of London and HMP & YOI Isis - supported by the Prisoners’ Education Trust.
Published as the sector awaits Charlie Taylor's review of the youth justice system, this report looks at the educational opportunities for young people in custody.
We know that prison education can make a difference. But how does that ‘change’ process happen and what role can education play? The Prisoner Learning Alliance (PLA) aims to stimulate debate around these issues. Using research with teachers and former prisoners, the report examines how we can measure the benefit of education in prison, and how we can improve its provision.
Prisoners' Education Trust approached Pro Bono Economics to undertake an impact assessment of their programme that funds educational resources for prisoners. Following on from research by the Ministry of Justice, economists estimated that PET would need to reduce reoffending by just one percentage point for the costs of the programme to outweigh the costs associated with reoffending (for example, costs to society, the victim and the criminal justice system).
PET’s Chief Executive draws on evidence to document the many ways education offers prisoners a new and positive identity. He outlines the four main categories of desistance theory and how education is a successful way of reducing re-offending rates.
This report offers a rare insight into prisoners’ views on education and finds that learning in prison could and should do more to help prisoners progress beyond basic skills.
Prisoners Education Trust (PET) and the Prisoner Learning Alliance (PLA) response to The Department for Business Innovation and Skills proposals to expand the loans system by age and level of qualification.
A briefing document outlining PET's concerns, questions and recommendations about the Ministry of Justice's plans for secure colleges, with a particular focus on education and learning.
Prisoners Education Trust and the PLA know that learning in prison works. This was recently evidenced in Justice Data Lab results, which showed a statistically significant (and sizeable) impact on reoffending levels from having received a PET grant for a distance learning course.
Written evidence presented to the Education Select Committe inquiry on Ofsted's Further Education and Skills report, with a focus on prison education.
© Prisoners' Education Trust 2025