Reducing reoffending rates: Open University awarded UK government contract to provide education in secure environments across England and Wales

Posted on 10 March 2025 • Society and politics, University news

• OU has been awarded a contract to continue delivering transformative HE education
• Education is a key aspect of rehabilitation to help end cycle of reoffending
• Evidence highlights the correlation between education and reducing reoffending

The Open University (OU) will continue to deliver life-changing education to those serving in prisons, after successfully securing a new contract this month with the Ministry of Justice for a preliminary term of two years.

For over 50 years, the OU has been providing transformative higher education to students in secure environments in prisons, hospitals and in the community under licence in England and Wales.

Providing higher education to prisoners is central to the University’s mission for social justice and being “open to people, places, methods, and ideas”.

The OU operates in over 150 prisons (covering all security categories). This work further expands to those living in the community who are subject to licenced or legally restricted conditions, enabling them to engage purposefully with higher education. Primarily study is funded either by student loans or occasionally by application for charitable funding.

Key aspect of rehabilitation

Since 2006, 3000 individuals have successfully completed a qualification whilst still serving their sentence. Over the last decade, numbers of those studying have increased by 50%, a large percentage of whom are studying in the community under licenced conditions or legal restrictions.

Education, and access to it, is a key aspect of rehabilitation which can help end the cycle of reoffending. Several Ministry of Justice reports in recent years have highlighted a correlation between engagement in higher education and a reduction in reoffending.

The transformative and rehabilitative power that education has is also exemplified by the OU’s students in secure environments.

OU tutors speak of supporting Students in Secure Environments (SiSE) as being infinitely rewarding. Study with the OU can help students realise their ambitions and rid themselves of the stigma of their past, providing an opportunity to genuinely change their lives for the better.

Interim Vice Chancellor Professor Josie Fraser said:

“This new contract is a fantastic recognition of the life-changing impact that access to higher education has on individuals in secure environments. It reinforces The Open University’s long-standing commitment to widening access and ensuring that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to learn and grow.  It also gives us a great opportunity to work with the Minister to support his aim to embrace the use of technology in prisons to deliver education. 

“I am immensely proud of our dedicated tutors and teams who make this possible, and I look forward to seeing even more students transform their futures through education.”

SiSE students have access to a wide range of courses covering all disciplines and levels of HE study and include: Arts and Humanities; Business Management and Business Studies; languages; Mathematics; Science; Social Sciences; Sports and Fitness. Access modules are available for those individuals who are unsure whether they are ready for higher education study. Some of most popular disciplines of study within prisons are Business Management and Mathematics.

By engaging in higher education, prison learners are acquiring many transferable life skills required and valued by employers.

Separate agreements for the education of prisoners operate with the relevant justice authorities in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland.

Main Image: Unseen Studio, Unsplash.