Move to address education shortfalls

Reforms to education for 10-to 17-year-olds in the youth justice system in England are being considered by the government.

The Department for Education and Skills last week launched a consultation for practitioners on young offenders’ participation in education, training and employment, both in custody and the community, and where accountability should lie for improving outcomes.

It said young people’s progress in education while in custody was “undone” once they returned to the community because schools were unwilling to take them.

It highlighted recent figures that showed three-quarters of youth offending team service users were either temporarily or permanently excluded from school.

The document, Education and Training for Young People in the Youth Justice System, also raised concerns over a “wide variation” in whether council services for young offenders were in line with the Every Child Matters agenda.