Prisons & YOI Classrooms
Bring oracy, critical thinking and learner voice into your education provision
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In prison and YOI education, creating positive engagement is everything. Learners need regular opportunities to practise communication skills and oracy, explore real-world issues, and take part in respectful discussion.
VotesforSchools supports this through a simple weekly routine. Learners explore a topical question, discuss different viewpoints, and contribute their voice through a final vote and optional written reflections.
Oracy improves through routine. VotesforSchools provides regular, structured opportunities for learners to speak clearly, listen actively, and respond appropriately in a supported format.
Each topic is built around a clear question. Learners explore arguments on different sides, explain their reasoning, and learn how to challenge ideas without shutting down discussion.
Topical content is designed to be relevant and discussion-led, helping education teams create purposeful sessions that learners want to contribute to.
Votes are logged and collated alongside thousands of other learners in education settings nationwide. Where feedback is received, it is shared back the following week so learners can see the journey their views have been on.
HMP Lancaster Farms
VotesforSchools supports areas many settings need to evidence, including:
Coverage is mapped in weekly curriculum guides, supporting consistent oversight and assurance.
All resources are subject to careful political balance and align with political impartiality guidance, so settings can be confident that no political view is given precedence.
There’s no barrier to entry. Any staff member can deliver sessions. Voting is logged by entering the number of learners participating, so it still works when attendance changes week to week.
There are 39 resources issued from September to July, plus an extensive archive. Regular use helps build curiosity about the wider world and healthy democratic habits. It also supports safeguarding by encouraging early intervention, mental wellbeing and safety.
There are 39 weekly resources issued across the academic year, plus an archive. Regular use helps create consistency for learners and staff, and supports a steady, repeatable approach to communication skills and discussion.
Voting is logged by staff by entering the number of learners who voted, so it works even when attendance changes week to week.
We know prison and YOI education comes with unique practical constraints. VotesforSchools is designed to be straightforward to run, with flexible delivery options depending on your access, space and tech.
Access to the voting platform is included in your subscription. We can provide logins for as many staff as required and, where appropriate, for learners too. The VotesforSchools team can support with initial setup.
Yes. All lessons are fully editable in PowerPoint, so you can adapt language, remove anything unsuitable, or tailor delivery for your learners.
A projector or smartboard is helpful, but not essential. Resources can also be printed as handouts if needed.
Some lessons include links to videos or other media, so internet is beneficial where available. If you can’t access the internet in your learning space, alternative activities are provided.
At the end of each discussion, learners vote Yes or No on a concluding question. Votes are collated nationally and shared with relevant organisations, including charities, government departments and businesses. Feedback is then shared back with learners the following week, showing the journey their views have been on.
Voting can be logged by staff. You simply enter the number of learners voting, so it works even when attendance changes week to week.
Yes. Staff (or learners, if they have logins) can add a short summary of the key arguments for Yes and No discussed, alongside logging the vote.
If you want a practical way to strengthen communication, critical thinking and citizenship, while keeping delivery straightforward for staff, we’d love to help.
Chat to our team