HMP Bullingdon

A large reception and resettlement prison in Oxfordshire

In shortBullingdon is a large, fast-turnover local resettlement prison that has held men since April 1992.

• Operational capacity1,112Baseline and in-use certified normal capacity was 865 (August 2025)
• Held (Aug 2025)1,102At the inspection
• Held (Aug 2026)1,095At 24 August 2026 (HMPPS monthly figures), against 1,112
• New arrivals a month436HMIP average; around 200 releases a month

HMP Bullingdon opened in April 1992 and, according to HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP), has six house blocks, the most recent added in 2008. A further residential unit was under construction at the time of the 2025 inspection.

HMPPS’s recruitment page describes it as a local resettlement prison five miles outside the market town of Bicester, accommodating men at the start of their time in custody and as they prepare to return to their communities. It also supervises people on short sentences (under 12 months) and those on remand.

Our prison categories guide explains why reception prisons like Bullingdon have a very different pace from training prisons.

Who is held and the units on site

In shortA mixed local population with high remand numbers, six named units and a stated aim that every prisoner has a job to go to on release.

• Foreign nationals18%HMIP 2025 report
• Young adults18%Around, HMIP 2025
• Ethnic minority groups30%Around, HMIP 2025
• Opiate substitution treatment15%About; around 200 prisoners referred to the mental health team each month

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) adds that, with high numbers on remand, turnover affects the stability and safety of the prison and makes it hard for staff to work on rehabilitation rather than simply detaining people.

The recruitment page says one of the prison’s main aims is that every prisoner has a job to go to on release. Inspectors found a more mixed picture of how far that was delivered, as set out below.

Arncott

General population, including the incentivised substance-free living unit on A3.

Blackthorn, Charndon and Dorton

General population.

Edgcott

A separate residential unit.

Finmere

The first night centre.

Other units

A segregation unit and a health care inpatient unit.

Key providers

Practice Plus Group for physical health, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust for mental health, Milton Keynes College for education and Serco as escort contractor.

• Study English and maths and distance-learning courses with the Open University
• Train in areas such as printing, industrial cleaning, ICT and business skills
• Work in on-site workshops and the gardens

What inspectors found in 2025 and again in April 2026

In shortOutcomes deteriorated by 2025 and an April 2026 progress review found limited improvement, though there were some encouraging signs.

• Safety (2025)Not sufficiently good
• Respect (2025)Not sufficiently good
• Preparation for release (2025)Not sufficiently good
• Purposeful activity (2025)Poor

HMIP carried out an unannounced inspection on 28 July to 7 August 2025 and published the report in October 2025. The Chief Inspector said Bullingdon had not made sufficient progress since 2022, with outcomes deteriorating in several areas. He also said the prison was one with potential.

HMIP returned for an independent review of progress on 13 to 15 April 2026 and published its findings on 26 May 2026.

Of seven concerns followed up, inspectors found reasonable progress in one, insufficient progress in four and no meaningful progress in two; Ofsted found reasonable progress in two themes and insufficient in three. The Chief Inspector called the findings disappointing.

Staffing and officer experience

In shortStaffing shortfalls run through every source: HMPPS records 244 FTE officers against a target of 274 and a rating of concern.

• HMPPS 2025/26 rating56.7%‘Performance of concern’ (rating 2 of 4)
• Officers in post244 FTEBand 3 to 5 officers against a target of 274, 30 below target (30 June 2026)

In 2025 HMIP said staffing shortfalls affected all areas of the prison and that many interactions between staff and prisoners were polite but transactional.

The report notes the previously high rate of attrition among new officer recruits had improved, but that recruitment challenges persisted across the prison, including in the gym, education, health care and operational support grades.

The same report records that about 30% of new officers had been recruited from overseas, so the increased salary threshold and other changes to visa sponsorship rules were likely to create further difficulties.

The IMB’s 2024/25 report asks the Prison Service how it plans to address the shortage and high turnover of staff, which it says affects almost every aspect of the prison.

Working here: pay, supplement and travel

In shortNational pay zone with the highest Band 3 market supplement, £3,500 a year at 3 October 2026, giving a quoted £38,428 to £42,834.

• Supplement£3,500A year, non-pensionable
• Earnings range£38,428 to £42,834Including the £3,500 supplement; start on a 37-hour contract until initial training is complete, then choose 39 or 41 hours (HMPPS recruitment page)

Bullingdon is in the national pay zone and is one of the prisons listed for the highest Band 3 market supplement, £3,500 a year at 3 October 2026. HMPPS says the supplement is non-pensionable, guaranteed to at least March 2027 and may be withdrawn.

See prison officer pay and the pay bands guide for how the 2026/27 pay points fit together. To apply, start at become a prison officer and compare nearby options in the regional jobs guide.