1B: What is ‘success’ in learner achievement?

Success breeds success – for some young offenders, achieving in a small step can be the beginning of a ‘snowball’ effect in which they progress to high-level accredited qualifications. In one institution, several women passed the national tests in literacy and numeracy at Level 2. This achievement inspired them to progress to key skills at Level 3. One learner has completed key skills in numeracy and communications at Level 3 and is working towards IT at Level 3. She is also studying for an Open University degree in Business Management and Mathematics. Others who completed the national tests have progressed to a range of ICT qualifications – the sky really is the limit for them.

In one institution, learners are able to achieve an accredited unit of an Entry Level certificate in action-planning and self-review. Learners identify their strengths and weaknesses and set SMART targets for improvement which then help to inform their ILPs. The ILP includes a 'target ladder' which helps them to set positive goals for the future and to monitor their progress towards them. They also work on an accredited social and life skills unit entitled Welfare to Work.

Two institutions have developed a training programme called Learning through Working in association with the Chartered Institution of Waste Management for use in the prison service. It is a foundation course in waste management and the knowledge gained contributes towards an NVQ at Level 1 in Waste Management Operations (Collection). On completion, the learner is prepared for the formal assessment of their competence in a real working environment.

The course is delivered by a vocational instructor alongside a basic skills teacher who helps and supports learners in understanding the contents of their information booklets. The booklets are well-designed with suitable graphics and a large-size font. The basic skills teacher helps learners to understand the questions they complete to test their knowledge and understanding and assists with any difficult words through exercises and word puzzles. The programme has been highly successful, as learners are able to understand the relevance of what they are learning. It has enabled young prisoners to practise their literacy and numeracy skills ‘on-the-job’.

 

Michael is on a bricklaying course. He told us, ‘I’ve been here since 23 December. I’m going out on 3 April; that’s a Saturday, so I’ll probably go out the Friday before.

‘I came from HMP Deerbolt in Co. Durham. I done my brickwork in other prisons before I came here. I learned all my brickwork in jail. If I didn’t come to jail, I wouldn’t know what I was doing. I done my City & Guilds NVQ Level 2 [he points to the achievement board, indicating a row of ticks by his name]. The Prison Service can get me a part-time place in a college doing an NVQ next level up and I hope to get a job on a building site. On the pillar I’ve built there is 10 mm between each brick. I use a spirit level to see that there is a plumb finish, to make sure it’s straight.’

Michael added, ‘Since I’ve been in prison, I’ve written poetry. It makes me feel happy when I write, especially when I talk about love. I have given 10 of my poems to my teacher and she’s put them into a publication. I write a letter every night to my father and girlfriend.’