@prisonersed
Prisoners' Education Trust (PET) offers distance learning courses and advice and guidance to people in prison. We use our policy and advocacy work to improve prison education. Support us here: prisonerseducation.org.uk/donate
It’s great to see University and College Union (UCU) publishing two reports exploring the experiences of prison teachers generally and prison teachers from minority ethnic groups specifically.
We don’t know enough about prison teachers. This research helps to fill that gap. Read the reports here ⬇️
No registration fee *and* you get a very stylish bright orange t-shirt.
And we come and cheer you on and wave tiny flags created by @frey-a.bsky.social!
Ready for a new challenge? 🏃♀️
Join PET for the Royal Parks Half on 11 October! Run through London’s most beautiful parks while helping people in prison gain the skills they need for a fresh start.
We have 8 places available with no registration fee. Register here 👇
https://ow.ly/uKLX50Yl4of
Each PET course can be the start of a brighter future for someone in prison. And, with your help, last year we were able to fund 1,741 courses.
Thank you so much to everyone who supported our work in 2025. Have a read of our impact report to see what you helped us achieve.
New figures show that children in prison are still being failed - locked in their cells for most of the day, their legal right to education breached routinely.
Later this year the government will set out its plans for improving standards. It's a chance for a total reset that puts education first.
Text which reads "Inspectors found a well‑run prison where strong, trusting relationships between staff and women were central to its success. Women praised the compassion, patience and consistency shown by staff, and many reported improvements in their well‑being and confidence since arriving at the jail."
Most @hmiprisonsnews.bsky.social reports make for depressing reading so worth noting today's positive one on Low Newton.
'Good' for education and nice to see that women are "motivated by teachers’ warm encouragement and positive feedback".
hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmipris_repo...
Congratulations to @leedsbeckett.bsky.social, who have won a Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education for their work in partnership with HMP Full Sutton.
www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/news/2026/02...
Want to set yourself a challenge this year?
With over seven months until the Royal Parks Half there’s plenty of time to start training!
Running for PET directly impacts the lives of people in prison, offering them a vital chance to gain new skills.
https://ow.ly/jOcR50Yl416
If you have lived experience of prison education, why not join our drop in on 17th March to find out more about this opportunity? More info on the link below. Hopefully see you there!
Graphic that reads: Join our Alumni Advisory Group - We're looking for passionate people with recent lived experience of prison education to help shape the future of PET. Find out more: prisonerseducation.org.uk/volunteer
We’re looking for passionate people with lived experience of prison education to join our Alumni Advisory Group - to help shape our strategy, strengthen our policy work, and keep learners at the centre of everything we do.
Find out how to join here: https://ow.ly/UkbN50YibZa
"What I saw during my session was inspirational. It was a reminder that books can be a gateway to a different life for all of us"
Really positive reflections from poet and novelist @timrelf.bsky.social on a session he ran in a prison library.
Our CEO, Jon Collins, has written for FE Week on why we should be building on the positive signs of progress in prison education, not cutting courses and making staff redundant.
https://ow.ly/QL5G50Y8Klm
Text reads: "This year, The Reading Agency will launch Quick Reads as audiobooks for the first time, as well as giving half a million Quick Reads books to prisons across the UK. All Quick Read titles “go through a rigorous accessibility review process, including testing for readability, concentration, and suitability for adults rebuilding reading confidence”, according to the charity."
According to an article in the Guardian today, the @readingagency.bsky.social is planning to distribute half a million of their 'Quick Reads' books to prisons in the UK this year.
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/f...
While prison education is still nowhere near good enough, it has been slowly improving. The cuts will reverse that.
We back the Justice Committee's call for a clear plan to improve both participation and quality in prison education and to reverse these ill-conceived cuts.
https://ow.ly/K7jx50Y5NOv
Lee Child, the bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series, has been named the first ever Prison Reading Laureate!
He plans to expand the literacy pilot programme he has been running in prisons and bring in more authors to champion the importance of literacy skills.
https://ow.ly/lVQw50Y4LZs
Great to read about Lady Grosvenor's new Manchester Metropolitan University scholarship programme for young people who were born to a parent in prison or have served time themselves.
As well as financial help, a dedicated staff member will ensure the recipients get support during their studies.
Handwritten postcard that reads: "My distance learning course has been helping me to grow what I need knowledge wise to be able to gain the future I want. It has also been teaching me why I have had addiction in the past. Even though moving prisons recently has been stressful I feel my studying has helped me to keep a level head and reminded me of why my future will be better than my past."
It's the UNESCO International Day of Education. In just a few words, Vanessa - who started a counselling course with PET last year - shows why education is a human right, a public good and a public responsibility.
Probably a good time to reshare 'Getting Connected', our recent @prisonersed.bsky.social briefing on digital learning in prisons.
prisonerseducation.org.uk/2025/12/gett...
Handwritten postcard that reads: "This course has helped me a lot in prison, it has helped with my purpose, focus, and helped me develop my confidence in my own ability. I now have the confidence I can move to my next goal of completing AAT Accounting and know I will succeed."
We always love getting postcards from learners letting us know how they're getting on with their course.
Barry is taking his Bookkeeping Certificate with PET - the start of his journey to becoming a freelance accountant.
"We must properly fund prison education. Some institutions face cuts of up to 60% in their education provision. That’s not just short-sighted, it’s self-defeating."
Very good article on the importance of literacy and prison education by @pauldaviesmp.bsky.social.
politicsuk.com/literacy-beh...
The London Assembly Economy, Culture and Skills Committee has published a report highlighting the challenges people face finding work after prison, and the impact this has on London’s economy.
Read our evidence which features in the report here: https://ow.ly/OmvW50XVYcY
https://ow.ly/qmOH50XVYe0
Good to see this @hmiprisonsnews.bsky.social follow-up report on reading in prisons. It's a really important issue where I think pressure from HMIP, Ofsted and others is beginning to make a difference.
hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmipris_repo...
Join our Chief Executive Jon Collins and speakers from Nesta, HMPPS and Redemption Roasters for the next instalment of the "How to make good things happen" event series, focused on supporting prison leavers into long-term employment. 12 February at 6pm - tickets are free.
https://ow.ly/vsBw50XU0ov
This government has said it wants to reduce reoffending. It’s not too late to show they are serious about that commitment by reversing these cuts and investing in prison education, so that more people have the skills and qualifications they will need on release.
https://ow.ly/6h6y50XTUML
Good to see the @i-m-b.bsky.social highlighting the impact that cuts to prison education budgets are having. Lots of really worrying examples in their letter, including cuts to vocational training and support for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities.
imb.org.uk/news/concern...
"At times when writing our new briefing, I felt like I'd returned to the past. Handwritten assignments, slow communication by post between learners and tutors, limited access to devices and the internet. Learners in prison kept in the digital dark ages."
This is a really good blog by my colleague @cassieedmiston.bsky.social on our new briefing on access to digital devices and the internet in prison, highlighting the progress made but also the ongoing digital divide between what's available in prison and in the community.
Our new briefing calls for a long-term strategy for digital learning in prison, as inconsistent provision threatens learning opportunities and employment prospects.
It is vital that people in prison do not fall further behind as the pace of change increases.
Handwritten quote that reads “PET has laid the foundations for my future aspirations and given me the confidence to dream and succeed. Thank you! 😊”
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported our Big Give #ChristmasChallenge - we've raised a record £46,819 so far!
The appeal is open until midday tomorrow - every donation means more people in prison can gain qualifications and build towards a brighter future: https://bit.ly/PET-BigGive-2
Handwritten quote that reads “I think it is fantastic having the opportunity to further my education whilst prison can be a bad experience this provides hope and sense of purpose for the near future when released knowing I have the chance to earn a good living and be a good role model to my kids. I take my education seriously and I very much appreciate this more than I can express. I think what yous do is so valuable and is vital to rehabilitation. Thank you.”
We have just launched our 2026–27 prospectus, including 12 new courses for people in prison to study. A donation to our Big Give #ChristmasChallenge means people like Andrew can find hope through learning.
Donations will be DOUBLED, while matched funding lasts: https://bit.ly/PET-BigGive-2