Education for Young Offenders
There is a wealth of evidence to suggest that participation in education,
training and employment is a key factor for avoiding engagement in offending
behaviour.
Preventing young people from engaging in crime is critical to ensuring positive
life chances and successful pathways to adulthood. We know that education
can help young people develop skills for life and work, and thereby prevent
them from falling into cycles of crime. We also know that many young
people in the youth justice system face multiple disadvantages; have complex
needs, and often face numerous barriers to engaging in education, training and
employment.
How are we addressing these issues?
In 2005, the Government published the Green Paper Reducing Re-Offending Through Skills and Employment, presenting proposals for improving the skills of the adult offender population and stating its commitment to taking action to improve education for offenders below working age.
Following consultation on the Green Paper, we published Reducing
Re-Offending Through Skills and Employment: Next Steps in December 2006.
This set out the government's forward plans for this agenda and, although
focused on reforms for adults in the criminal justice system, outlined our
plans to consult on the issues affecting education for school age
offenders.
On 4 April 2007, the Department for Education and Skills - in partnership with
the Ministry of Justice, the Youth Justice Board and the Learning and Skills
Council - published a consultation document Education
for Young People in the Youth Justice System. Released as a series of
four 'issues papers', the consultation provided an analysis of the key
themes as described below, and posed questions to be explored in further
consultation.
- Ensuring participation - covering access to appropriate and sustainable provision for young offenders in custody or in the community
- Curriculum including issues related to the provision of learning programmes for young offenders, both in custody and the community, which are specifically designed to meet their personal needs, and link to the 14-19 agenda.
- Workforce development including issues related to ensuring a suitably qualified and professional workforce; appropriately supported in delivering successful outcomes for young people
- Accountability - concerning accountability mechanisms; the roles and responsibilities for young offenders' education and for raising standards and improving outcomes
What were the results of the consultation?
The consultation closed on 4 July and a summary of the responses is now available. We are committed to publishing forward plans in this area by the end of the year.
This page was last updated on 10 September 2007
