Secure schools to launch as early as 2019

Government plans to pilot two secure schools, intended to have a greater focus on education and rehabilitation, were first announced in December 2016, on the back of recommendations made in Charlie Taylor's review of the youth justice system.

Appearing before the justice select committee, Lee said both pilot establishments could be up and running by the end of 2019, and plans rolled out nationally within 10 years.

"[For the pilot] secure schools we are aiming, and I keep agitating for earlier and earlier, for the end of the decade, early part of next decade, for both of them to be operational," Lee said.

"We are not yet there because I'm a passionate believer in an audit cycle and I think it is something the department is getting better at."

Lee said the hope is that, should the pilots be successful, secure schools will replace existing custodial provision across England within the next decade. 

"If it is proven to be a success then I would argue that it should be rolled out across the country," he said.

"I guess we probably need to give it at least a year if not a couple of years before we can actually conclude that they are successful, and then after that it will be for my successor or successor's successor depending on how politics goes to make a decision on rolling it out."

"If they are successful I, would hope that over the next 10 years or so, because it will take time, we will replace everything with secure schools."