Celebrating Growth and Excellence in Prison Education
Novus Gower is proud to announce its first-ever Teaching and Learning Conference, celebrating the remarkable progress in education at HMP and YOI Parc since taking over the education and training contract in December 2022.
Novus Gower is a joint venture between not-for-profit social enterprise Novus, the UK’s largest provider of education, training and employability programmes to prisoners, and Gower College Swansea, one of the largest colleges in Wales.
The event was held at the Swansea.com stadium, yesterday Wednesday 30 October, marking a significant milestone in the College’s development of educational practices within the prison environment.
This conference serves as a platform to recognise the hard work, dedication, and innovation of the teaching staff at HMP and YOI Parc, while providing them with further opportunities for professional development.
Since taking on the education contract, Novus Gower has transformed the curriculum with a strong focus on employability skills and teaching excellence, all with the goal of improving outcomes for learners and supporting their resettlement.
The Teaching and Learning Conference will feature a range of dynamic workshops led by leading educational experts, designed to enhance classroom practices:
- Dave Harris and Nina Jackson: Facilitating a workshop on Independent Thinking, Dave and Nina will offer strategies to ignite curiosity and build resilience among teachers in challenging settings.
- Mike Gershon: A renowned expert in assessment for learning, Mike will share strategies that help teachers maximise their impact on learners by effectively assessing progress and understanding.
- Rachel Clarke: Leading an important discussion on anti-racism in education, Rachel will guide participants on a journey toward promoting inclusivity and equality within the classroom at HMP and YOI Parc.
Novus Gower is committed to helping learners at HMP and YOI Parc develop their potential through quality education and targeted employability skills. The Teaching and Learning Conference aims to inspire teachers with new ideas and practical strategies they can implement to improve outcomes for learners and support them on their path to resettlement and release.
“We’ve seen fantastic outcomes at HMP Parc over the last year,” said Gower College Swansea's Quality Development Manager, Louisa Walters. “This conference is a testament to the hard work of our dedicated educators, and we’re thrilled to provide them with opportunities to further develop their skills and share best practices.”
Sally Pearson, Head of Learning and Skills for Novus Gower said: "We are very excited to host our first annual Teaching and Learning conference. We know that by providing these CPD opportunities and reflection time for our teachers, we will be able to continue to improve the quality of teaching and learning at HMP and YOI Parc, supporting learners to succeed, reintegrate into society and gain and sustain meaningful employment or education on release."
Speaking about the broader impact of the conference, Mark Jones, CEO of Gower College Swansea and Director of Novus Gower said: “Education has the power to transform lives, and at HMP and YOI Parc, we are witnessing this transformation every day. Our staff are the key to making this happen and by equipping them with innovative tools and strategies, we are strengthening their capacity to inspire and support their learners.
"Through our partnership, we are also able to draw on the wealth of expertise across the partners to ensure learners have access to a wider breadth of curriculum and progression opportunities. This conference is therefore a powerful step toward our commitment to quality education that extends beyond the prison walls and into the future of every learner.”
ENDS
About Novus Gower: Novus Gower is a joint venture between not-for-profit social enterprise Novus, the UK’s largest provider of education, training and employability programmes to prisoners, and Gower College Swansea, one of the largest colleges in Wales.
Novus have built a reputation as an innovator in rehabilitation and reducing re-offending by transforming people's lives through learning and skills delivery across a diverse range of prisons spanning England and Wales. Novus is part of LTE group, the first integrated education and skills group of its kind.
Gower College Swansea offers a diverse curriculum portfolio of industry-led academic and vocational provision and has built an excellent reputation for the quality of its teaching and learning.
Through this unique partnership we will harness the wealth of cross-group expertise to ensure learners have access to a breadth of curriculum and progression opportunities.
Photo captions
Left to right: Mark Jones, CEO Gower College Swansea, Louisa Walters, Quality Development Manager Gower College Swansea, Sally Pearson, Head of Learning and Skills Novus Gower and Peter Cox, Managing Director Novus
Left to right: Mark Jones, CEO Gower College Swansea, Sian Hibbs, Deputy Director Strategic Support, Admin and Assurance HM Prison and Probation Service, Louisa Walters, Quality Development Manager Gower College Swansea, Sally Pearson, Head of Learning and Skills Novus Gower, Peter Cox, Managing Director Novus and Donna Whitehall, Contract Manager HM Prison and Probation Service