Sir Martyn Oliver, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills, alongside Charlie Taylor, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons, has voiced grave concerns regarding the declining standards in young offender institutions (YOIs). A joint review published today by Ofsted and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) reveals a significant drop in the quality and quantity of education available to children in custody over the past decade.
Young offender institutions are designed to house children and young people who have committed criminal offences. They are meant to play a crucial role in rehabilitating these individuals, providing at least 15 hours of educational instruction each week. However, the report highlights that educational opportunities have been steadily decreasing, with alarming implications for the future of these young individuals.
The review indicates that YOIs are struggling to manage challenging behaviour effectively, which has resulted in a disturbing trend of children spending extended periods in isolation. In some cases, children are permitted as little as half an hour a day outside their cells, severely limiting their interaction with peers and access to education.
Sir Martyn Oliver expressed his distress over the findings, stating, “The children in these institutions are entitled to a high-quality education that supports them to turn their lives around. The system is failing them. I am especially concerned that children are spending extended periods in isolation, further compromising their opportunity to become successful and productive citizens upon their release.”
In a similar vein, Charlie Taylor remarked, “Children in custody are among the most troubled and challenging in society, often with experiences of being in care and disrupted education in the community. Their time in custody ought to represent a golden opportunity to address that through consistent interventions and support, but we continue to report on very poor provision, particularly for those children separated from their peers in response to conflict. Education in our YOIs needs to be prioritised and its delivery transformed if we want to see less youth crime and more children going on to lead successful lives.”
The review identifies the inability of YOI staff to manage complex behaviours as a key factor contributing to the decline in educational quality. Insufficient behaviour management strategies have led to increased isolation of children, limiting their educational opportunities. The report also notes that staff shortages hinder the development of meaningful relationships between staff and the children, further exacerbating the situation.
Inspectors found that poor leadership and a lack of cooperation between education providers and YOI leaders have resulted in few sustainable measures to address the declining standards. The review makes several recommendations for youth custody service leaders, including a significant reduction in the amount of time children are kept in isolation and a prioritisation of educational attendance.
To improve the situation, the report calls for the recruitment of appropriately qualified teaching staff who can effectively support children in making progress and achieving their educational goals.
The findings draw upon data from 32 full inspection reports and five independent reviews spanning a decade, reflecting a comprehensive assessment of the current state of education within young offender institutions. The report also incorporates feedback from young offenders, educational leaders, YOI managers, and inspectors’ observations.
As concerns mount over the future of education in these institutions, the call for reform becomes ever more urgent to ensure that young people have the opportunity to turn their lives around and reintegrate into society successfully.
