Prison instructor

You'll need a recognised teaching qualification or be willing to work towards one. Qualifications include:

• Level 3 Award in Education and Training
• Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training
• Level 5 Education and Training Diploma

You'll need access to 100 hours of teaching practice. You'll also need experience and a level 3 vocational qualification in your subject area or trade.

You may find it useful to do qualifications in assessment, like the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement.

Entry requirements

You may need:

• GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• funding advice
• search for courses

You can complete a learning and skills teacher higher apprenticeship.

You'll need a qualification in the subject you want to teach. Employers will be looking for relevant up-to-date industry experience.

You'll also need to show ability in English, maths and IT.

More Information

• guide to apprenticeships

Further information

You can find out more about teaching qualifications from FE Advice.

Find out more about the role from Her Majesty's Prison & Probation Service.

You'll need:

• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to enjoy working with other people
• customer service skills
• sensitivity and understanding
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to work well with others
• to be flexible and open to change
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

You would also need to meet the usual Prison Service entry requirements, which include nationality and security checks. See Her Majesty's Prison & Probation Service for more details.

Your day-to-day duties may include:

• finding out the skills and training needs of each prisoner
• planning training sessions
• preparing teaching materials
• providing group or one-to-one instruction
• updating prisoners' individualised learner records
• supporting prisoners working towards qualifications
• making sure prisoners are supervised at all times
• keeping the working area safe
• making sure tools and materials are counted to avoid security risks
• searching prisoners, known as a 'rub down' or 'pat down'

You could work in a prison.

Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time and physically and emotionally demanding.