1C: How is success in learner achievement recognised?
The following extracts from HMIP inspection reports illustrate effective practice in learner achievement.
Foundation learners make good progress in developing literacy and numeracy, and key skills, and most achieve qualifications. […] Literacy, numeracy and language provision across the prison is much improved since the previous inspection. Success rates in basic and key skills qualifications are good. The key performance targets are challenging and are rigorously monitored each month. Staff have a good awareness of Skills for Life, the Government’s strategy on training in literacy, numeracy and the use of language, and the need to move towards it.
There are currently over 100 learners on foundation programmes. Attendance and punctuality are good; this is important as the learners are not escorted to classes, this being an open prison. […]. Prison Service key performance targets for literacy and numeracy were met in 2002-03 and achievement rates are on target for 2003-04. In the period January 2003-January 2004, 89 per cent of learners who completed literacy courses and 78 per cent on numeracy courses achieved qualifications. Some learners progress well from Entry Level to achieve Level 1 and 2 in literacy and numeracy. […] Learners’ development of confidence and self-esteem is good on the foundation programmes.
The standard of key skills portfolios in the foundation programme is good. […] In foundation, learners receive regular feedback about their progress and assessment arrangements are appropriate. Action plans and progress review documents are used to record progress and set realistic targets.
Achievement rates for literacy and numeracy are good, with 67 per cent of learners gaining a qualification at Entry Level, Level 1 or Level 2. Achievement of key skills, and wider key skills qualifications is good. Learners have achieved 132 key skills units in the past year, either as an extra qualification, or as a first step into learning within an employment workshop. Achievements in foundation sessions are good.
In the past year […] over 60 per cent of foundation learners achieved awards, many of whom started from a very basic level. Foundation learners make good progress and develop good study skills. Progress from one level to the next is good. They research projects and soon develop the skills for good research with minimal, if any, support needed from staff.
Between April and September 2002, 220 learners achieved key work skills against a target of 90, 103 learners achieved literacy and numeracy at Entry Level compared with a target of 20, and 77 learners achieved literacy and numeracy at level 1 against a target of 40. […] There are clear progression rates for learners. Some learners are able to progress through the basic and key skills levels and take a teaching certificate or access courses to higher education. One learner, over a four-year period, successfully progressed from attending basic skills classes to nearing completion of the teaching certificate. […] The development of the peer partners initiative has helped many learners to achieve a range of skills. In one training session, individual learner support was provided by a peer partner who had completed the programme the previous year.
Achievement rates for foundation programmes are very good, at approximately 90 per cent for Level 1 literacy and numeracy qualifications. Generally, those who finish the programmes achieve their qualification.
Learners’ rate of progress from Entry Level 1 to Entry Level 3 is good. The achievement of accreditation is a boost to learners’ confidence and encourages them to continue with their learning.
Retention rates on courses between April 2001 to April 2002 were high at 90 per cent on young offender courses, and 91 per cent on adult courses. As a local prison, the centre experiences a high and rapid turnover of learners. Where learners are able to stay in education for longer periods of time, results are very good. These learners achieve several qualifications and there is good progression between different literacy and numeracy programmes. Achievements of key performance indicators far exceed the targets set by the prison. Between April 2001 and April 2002, the learners at the centre achieved 107 qualifications in communications at Level 2, and 65 qualifications in numeracy at Level 2.
Learners are well motivated and enthusiastic about their studies. Retention, achievement and progression rates of learners in the education department are good. […] Retention rates for basic skills and key skills during the past year ranged from 81 per cent to 100 per cent; most were over 90 per cent. […] Learners make good progress on foundation programmes. Standards of attainment are often high. There are clear progression routes for learners from Entry Level to Level 2, and a good range of accreditation is available to recognise learners’ achievements. Learners report that they value the opportunity to gain qualifications.
There is clear evidence of learner progression. Learners’ writing skills improve dramatically, often within weeks, and other prisoners who could speak no English on arrival can speak basic English after a few months. A prisoner who has never written home before is being helped to write a first letter. This was completed within the first few weeks of her sentence. The occasion is being used to instil the rules of spelling and grammar. This exercise has given her a sense of pride.
Achievement rates are good for many of the programmes, including […] a range of qualifications in the foundation provision. Over 75 per cent achieved literacy and numeracy qualifications at Entry Level. At Level 1 and 2 in literacy, 63 per cent achieved and 70 per cent achieved a numeracy qualification at the same levels.
All learners make steady progress which is relative to their previous attainment.
Achievement of qualifications for short and modular foundation courses is good. Most courses are externally accredited, and the standard of work produced by learners is good. […] From April to September 2003, there have been 131 achievements of key work skills, which includes IT. There have also been 50 qualifications awarded in literacy and numeracy from Entry Level to Level 2.
There are good levels of achievement in foundation programmes for those who are able to access the support in literacy and numeracy. Many learners develop their reading and writing skills over relatively short periods of time and progress through the different levels at an appropriate pace. Many learners progress on to key skills and computer classes.
Achievement of qualifications in literacy and numeracy is good. Many learners in the prison work towards these qualifications. In the past 12 months, out of 329 learners who started programmes in literacy and/or numeracy, 276 successfully completed their qualifications, a pass rate of 84 per cent. There is a strong emphasis on accreditation across the foundation area. All programmes on offer to learners lead to accredited outcomes. This provides a useful framework to structure their studies, and tangible recognition of their achievements. […] Learners working towards key skills programmes at Levels 1 and 2 are particularly clear about the qualifications they are working towards, and the value to them of the skills and knowledge they are acquiring. Learners aiming for Entry-level qualifications speak positively of the progress they have made, and are able to provide specific examples of what they have achieved. HMP Lindholme has already exceeded its key performance targets for literacy and numeracy achievement for the current year.
There are good achievements for literacy and numeracy learners. Since April 2004, 67 per cent of learners have achieved a qualification. […] Current learners are making good progress in literacy and numeracy. Many learners recognise their personal progression in self-confidence and esteem. Although there is no accreditation for language courses, learners are very pleased with their individual progress. They are able to communicate effectively in English and proudly recount how they spoke little or no English before entering the programme.
On foundation courses, achievement rates are good at Entry Level, in social and life skills courses and on numeracy courses at Level 1. Foundation learners develop language skills quickly even without previous knowledge of the language. […] Monitoring of progress is good in all subjects. At the end of each lesson tutors and learners discuss individual progress. Progress reviews are frequent and in most instances learners are directly involved in assessing their own progress.
Personal learning goals are achieved to a good level in foundation programmes. In 2002-03, 183 learners achieved Entry Level qualifications, 154 achieved Level 1 and 251 achieved Level 2. They understand the value of improving their literacy and numeracy skills and the benefits these can bring. Learners are proud of the certificates they have received, and are often enthusiastic about their prospects of reaching the next level in their studies. They frequently refer to the significant increase in their confidence, generated by their studies.
Retention rates for literacy and numeracy courses are good at 89 per cent. In the past 12 months, 178 learners started numeracy courses and the achievement rate exceeded 65 per cent at Levels 1 and 2 and Entry Level. In GCSE mathematics, the achievement rate was 80 per cent. Literacy achievement is better at Level 2 than Level 1. There are good opportunities for learners to progress from Entry Level to Level 2. Learners are also encouraged to use their new skills by helping their peers and contributing to other classes.
'How is success in learner achievement recognised?' in other guides:
- Adult and Community Learning
- E-learning
- Embedded Learning
- Family Learning
- Further Education Colleges
- Jobcentre Plus Programmes
- Learners with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities
- The Juvenile Secure Estate for Young People Aged 15-17
- Voluntary and Community Sector
- Work-based Learning
- Young Offender Institutions for Young People Aged 18-21
