HMP Nottingham is a bustling Category B male prison, with mostly remand prisoners, in the heart of England. Simon Harvey, Education Manager at the prison and employed by PeoplePlus, who works across 22 prisons in the Midlands and East of England, faces a unique challenge: to provide effective learning to a population in constant flux.
Unlike sentenced prisoners, those on remand have uncertain lengths of stay, ranging from a few days to several months. Living alongside these are sentenced prisoners who could be serving anything from 2 to 25-year sentences.
This dynamic environment demands learning and qualifications that are flexible, responsive, and adaptable – which is where Gateway Qualifications has really excelled.
HMP Nottingham’s atiitude to learning is through an innovative approach, partnering with Gateway Qualifications, enabling them to tailor learning to the diverse needs of their transient prison population and student body.
Challenges of a remand setting
High churn is the defining characteristic of a remand prison population. Unlike traditional educational institutions, such as a college or a workplace that has well-defined cohorts, at prisons like HMP Nottingham, tutors and trainers must contend with continual influx and outflow of learners. This poses significant challenges:
- Disrupted learning: Traditional, longer courses become impractical when learners might be transferred before completion, potentially losing valuable progress and motivation.
- Diverse needs: The prison houses individuals with varying educational backgrounds, aspirations, neurodiversity levels, and lengths of stay. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work and is demotivating for the learners.
- Uncertain outcomes: Measuring the long-term impact of education on recidivism is complex, making it difficult to quantify the program’s success.
Gateway to flexibility
Gateway qualifications offers a solution that meets the unique needs of HMP Nottingham:
- Small unit structure: Gateway’s qualifications can be broken down into smaller, achievable units, allowing learners to progress incrementally even with short stays. This ‘chunked’ approach minimises learning loss and ensures continuity, even if transferred to another prison.
- Diverse curriculum: Gateway Qualifications offers a wide range of qualifications and units catering to various needs and learning styles. From personal development and employability skills to specific topics like British values and radicalisation, there’s plenty of scope for different learning needs.
- Responsive support: The prison has found that Gateway Qualifications provide exceptional support, addressing HMP Nottingham’s concerns and queries promptly and efficiently. This collaborative approach has enabled a smooth implementation, even for new qualifications and has ensured a wider take-up of the qualifications.
Impact on learners
The benefits of Gateway Qualifications extend far beyond the qualification attainment. Learners at HMP Nottingham experience a significant, but positive change in their journey:
- Self-determination: Gaining knowledge and skills boosts self-confidence and fosters a sense of purpose, crucial for rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
- Employability skills: Equipping learners with job-ready skills like CV writing and interview techniques increases their chances of securing employment upon release, reducing recidivism rates.
- Personal development: The program encourages personal growth through units on budgeting, communication, and social awareness, preparing individuals for a successful life beyond prison walls.
HMP Nottingham's attitude to learning is through an innovative approach, partnering with Gateway Qualifications, enabling them to tailor learning to the diverse needs of their transient prison population and student body.
Case studies in action
Simon Harvey shares the stories of two individuals whose lives were impacted by Gateway Qualifications.
Mr. ‘R’: Facing an indeterminate sentence, Mr. ‘R’ found focus and motivation in the peer mentoring qualification. He honed his communication, leadership, and business skills, eventually establishing himself as a self-employed accountant upon release.
Mr. ‘S’: A former remand prisoner and a young man initially resistant to education saw the value of qualifications after securing a job with RailTrack. He completed the required units, showcasing the program’s ability to motivate even reluctant learners.
HMP Nottingham’s partnership with Gateway Qualifications is a positive example of the power of flexible, learner-centric education in a challenging environment. By offering a diverse, unit based curriculum and responsive support, Gateway Qualifications supports individuals to take control of their learning journey, equipping them with valuable skills and perhaps optimism for a brighter future.