OneAdvanced: Transforming prisoner education with the Ministry of Justice
In this editorial, Mark Dewell, SVP of Education, Government and Housing at OneAdvanced, talks about the company’s proud partnership with the Ministry of Justice and the implementation of Assessment and Learning – a powerful AI driven-tool designed to improve educational and employment outcomes.
by Mark DewellPublished on 22 July 2025 2 minute read
OneAdvanced is proud to partner with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), delivering its market-leading Assessment and Learning solution to the prison population in England. The solution is set to transform skills development for people in 104 adult prisons.
Assessment and Learning will support the MoJ’s wider transformation efforts in education delivery as part of their new Prisoner Education Service. It will help the MoJ improve the accuracy and consistency of educational evaluations for prisoners across England through AI-powered screening and assessment. This will ensure programme leaders can identify appropriate education, skills training, and work activities.
Assessment and Learning takes a smart approach to analysing ability in Functional Skills (English, maths, and digital), using iterative AI to produce highly accurate, tailored assessment levels. User friendly, the solution keeps the learner engaged through video examples and interactive questions, with customisable accessibility features.
Using a ‘step by step’ approach, Assessment and Learning takes the learner on a personalised journey to greatly improve their abilities in Functional Skills – equipping them with the tools they need for improved employability outcomes upon release.
Beyond the prison system, the solution plays a vital role in supporting young people entering the workforce. It is a critical component of apprenticeship delivery, helping thousands of school leavers annually achieve the qualifications necessary to pursue their chosen career paths. By providing a consistent and adaptive learning experience, it ensures learners of all backgrounds can progress with confidence.
In the corporate sector, Assessment and Learning is widely adopted by large and medium-sized businesses to support workforce development. By identifying individual training needs, the platform enables organisations to deliver targeted learning pathways that enhance employee capability, boost productivity, and improve retention. This adaptability makes it a valuable tool across multiple sectors, from education to enterprise.
The partnership with the Ministry of Justice represents a pivotal moment in reshaping prisoner education across England. Through the delivery of accurate, AI-driven assessment, OneAdvanced is enabling better education planning and empowering individuals to rebuild their futures with meaningful, transferable skills.
As the latest in a long line of successful public sector collaborations, this partnership reinforces OneAdvanced’s dedication to educational excellence. With a proven track record of delivering impactful, scalable solutions, OneAdvanced continues to enhance outcomes for learners while driving innovation and efficiency across the public sector.
Find out more about OneAdvanced’s leading software for education.
About the author
Mark Dewell
SVP > Education, Government and Social Housing
Mark quickly progressed to leadership roles in the UK and Australia after he joined his first software company. He moved to Iris Software in 2008, taking up the role of Managing Director of the Ticketing business, and joined OneAdvanced in 2013 when Iris divested that part of its portfolio.