Education at HMP Five Wells is provided by Novus, who took over the contract from Weston College in July 2024, offering 16 accredited vocational courses alongside basic literacy, numeracy and English and maths provision. Prisoners can also access qualifications through in-cell tablets as well as classroom-based teaching.
Work and Employment
There are 24 workshops at the prison, covering a wide range of trades including sign and design, print, upcycling and recycling, textiles, carpentry, kitchen fitting, bricklaying, plumbing and heating, art, fitness, forklift and vehicle maintenance, and media and radio production.
The prison operates an Industry and Employability Hub, part of the national New Futures Network Employment Hub scheme, bringing together staff, employer partners and prisoners to focus on job-readiness ahead of release. The Department for Work and Pensions also has a presence on site to support prisoners into employment.