Science training for prisoners to be extended across Scottish jails

A pioneering programme offering science education to prisoners is to be extended across Scotland after a £150,000 funding boost.

Cell Block Science is a unique public engagement research partnership set up to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) in prison learning centres.

The scheme began as a yearlong pilot of informal science learning activities at three jails – Shotts in Lanarkshire, Low Moss in East Dunbartonshire and Cornton Vale women’s prison in Stirling.

Activities included hands-on science projects, the introduction of a specialist library and development of a family learning programme.

The project proved popular, with attendance rates nearing 70 per cent of all learners at one prison.

Now the initiative is to be extendedtosixprisonsaround the country over the next two years, thanks to £150,000 from the Wellcome Trust.

The project is led by the Biomedical Sciences Research Centre at the University of St Andrews, with partners including Fife College, the Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance and the Children’s University of Scotland.

Experts say the expansion of the programme will enhance and complement current teaching in numeracy, literacy and arts subjects that takes place in prisons.

Low Moss governor Sharanne Findlay said: “The impressive attendance numbers demonstrate that there is an appetite for science, technology, engineering and maths subjects.

“Further education can be a significant contributor to someone’s transformational journey, so we are very grateful to our learning providers and the University of St Andrews for giving people the chance to use this as a vehicle to consider that journey in a more positive and confident vein.”