Fewer classes, fewer teachers, more time behind cell doors

Changes to prison education contracts made in October 2025 resulted in a 25 per cent cut to planned education hours across the prison estate in England. One year on, we look at what this has meant for learners in prison and the staff who support them.

Since the new Prisoner Education Services (PES) contracts came into effect – covering literacy and numeracy courses up to level 2, as well as ICT, English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) and vocational training – there are fewer classes available in the vast majority of prisons.

Education at 84 of the 94 establishments covered by these contracts was cut, with an average decrease in education hours of 28 per cent. Six prisons lost more than half of their planned hours.