England’s first secure school gains royal assent
Joe Lepper
Thursday, May 5, 2022
The first secure school to open in England has been granted royal assent, following the passing of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act.
The secure school, called Oasis Restore, is being run by the Oasis Charitable Trust and is due to open next year in Medway.
Its legal footing this week also paves the way for the school to apply for charitable status through the Charity Commission.
The secure school aims to focus on young inmates’ education, health and social care as well as reduce reoffending rates.
“Oasis Restore will provide an environment where young people feel safe and secure”, said Oasis founder Steve Chalke.
“Our mission is to deliver an innovative education and care offer that develops a healthy sense of identity and purpose, improves students’ social cognition and emotional intelligence, and supports them as they move forward in life.”
Oasis Restore will accommodate children aged between 12 and 18 on remand and sentenced to custody. It is located on the site of Medway Secure Training Centre (STC), which was closed due to concerns around the safety of young people.
However, its launch has been blighted by delays. It had due to open in 2020 but this was postponed until November 2023.
A critical National Audit Office report last month into the setting up of the secure school said that delays had been caused by spiralling costs after its design had to be revised. While its original cost was £4.9m, this has since increased to £36.5m.
This report was published amid a warning from the Ministry of Justice and the Prison and Probation Service that the number of children in custody is set to double within the next two years, prompting ministers to consider reopening Rainsbrook STC, which was also closed due to safety concerns.
