The provision of prison education in England and Wales is to undergo a review to be led by Dame Sally Coates, Director of Academies South for United Learning.

The Justice Secretary, Michael Gove, announced that the review will investigate methods to improve the quality of prison education with the hope of encouraging prisoners to positively engage with learning. At the same time, the potential for employers to contribute to the prison education curriculum will also be explored so that prisoners are given the opportunity both to learn and to seek employment on release.

Michael Gove has previously highlighted his favour for a system which would link prisoners’ participation in learning and skills training to the length of jail term, and which could potentially lead to a drop in the reoffending rate. Recent research has shown a reduction in re-offending by prisoners who studied courses such as degree-level modules, vocational and academic qualifications including GCSEs and A Levels.

‘The Coates Review’ is expected by spring 2016