Young inmates' school shake up

MPs have criticised education in prison

Local authorities could be put in charge of educating young offenders in England under a planned shake up.

At the moment various bodies have responsibility for educating young people in secure institutions.

Inspectors have criticised provision, saying it is limited to the basics of literacy and numeracy and does not cater for more able inmates.

Children's Secretary Ed Balls has announced a drive to improve the quality of education for offenders.

He says he wants young inmates to have similar training and education opportunities to pupils out in the community.

Mr Balls is considering bringing children's homes, secure training centres and young offender institutions closer into line with schools.

Truants

The government is to consult on plans to place education in all those centres in the hands of local councils.

In a speech to the Youth Justice Board Convention in Bournemouth, Mr Balls said: "We will consult on whether and how local authorities should lead on education and training for young people in custody.

"This would mean that for the first time, young offenders would be able to access education and training which is consistent with what their peers outside the youth justice system access.

"Giving local authorities responsibility would mean that all young offenders whether in custody or the community would be able to access high quality learning, consistent with what happens in schools and colleges across the country."

Most young offenders have struggled at school - 41% have been regular truants and 15% have been expelled for bad behaviour, says the government.

And more than three-quarters of young people who receive custodial sentences go on to re-offend.

The Chief Inspector of Schools has complained that standards of teaching of the basic skills of literacy and numeracy "is often poor".

And the annual report of the Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills 2006/07 said "most of the provision for young people below school leaving age does not meet the requirements of the National Curriculum".

While recognising that some improvements in education in secure settings had been made, the annual report said there were not enough advanced courses available, that provision was narrow, that the more able were often working below their ability levels and that people were having to repeat courses rather than take on new subjects.

In March 2005, adult prison education was severely criticised by MPs on the Education and Skills Select Committee.

They said only a third of prisoners had access to formal education, lasting on average nine hours a week.

And inmates were deterred from taking up education because they were paid more to do other work in prison.

Last year, the reform charity the Forum on Prisoner Education said little had improved and only four of the MPs' 55 recommendations had been fully met.