Secure academies among proposals to boost offenders' education
Neil Puffett
Monday, January 7, 2013
A radical shake-up of young offender education could see the introduction of new secure academies and free schools, the Youth Justice Board has revealed.
The idea is being considered as part of a review of the youth secure estate announced in November by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, which is looking at how to give the system a “stronger educational heart”.
YJB chief executive John Drew told CYP Now that the concept of secure schools is one of a number of ideas under consideration.
“The Justice Secretary is very keen to open the question up and look at quite radical alternatives to the current arrangements,” Drew said.
“YJB and Ministry of Justice officials are carrying out meetings with academies and other people from the free school movement as well as existing pupil referral units.”
Drew insisted that discussions are still at an early stage, but said government is keen to begin to improve young offender education within the next two years and that “more detailed” conversations will begin by spring.
The number of young people in secure settings has reduced significantly in recent years, with the latest statistics showing that there were 1,595 under-18s in custody in October, but educational outcomes and reoffending rates remain poor.
The number of GCSE passes achieved by under-18s in young offender institutions (YOIs) fell from 232 in 2009/10 to just 119 in 2010/11.
Reoffending rates for young offenders released from custody are currently around the 70 per cent mark.
