Routes into prison teaching: “It helps that I can tell my learners that I left school with no qualifications”
Ade is a functional skills English teacher at HMP Pentonville. She writes how having ADHD helps her to support her neurodiverse learners.
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Routes into prison teaching: “It has become the passion of my life”
Former police officer Sharon Davidson tells us what it’s like to work as an Open University tutor in prisons – her most ‘inspiring’ role yet.
Routes into prison teaching: “Together we learn how to tolerate, accept and respect each other”
Viktoria always wanted to be a teacher. She tells us how – after 25 years’ teaching English in Greece – she found her niche as an ESOL tutor in UK prisons.
Routes into prison teaching: “I was preparing for retirement”
Diana writes how volunteering in a prison led to a new role supporting people in prison to access distance learning opportunities.
Routes into prison teaching: “I wanted to teach people who found learning difficult”
While a lorry driver, Nigel decided to enroll on a course in car repairs, to make sure he could handle mechanical problems on the road. He writes how this was the catalyst for his love of learning, and the beginning of a journey to support those who find learning difficult.
Routes into prison teaching: “I wasn’t sure whether teaching in a school was for me”
Emily tells us how she came to be an Outreach Tutor at a Category B male prison after studying Education at university and volunteering at a jail – with the support of a well-connected tutor.
Routes into prison teaching: “My experience teaching at primary schools was invaluable”
Esther shares how she went from primary school teacher to Reading Strategy Lead for five prisons in the North West of England.
New blog series explores the routes into prison teaching
The PLA wants to hear from prison educators about how they came to teach in prisons. Share your journey to help others find their own route into prison teaching.