The government will create a new type of academy trust to deliver its plans for free schools for youngsters in custody.
The Ministry of Justice today published guidance for groups interested in setting up secure schools, which will be designed for up to 70 children aged 12-17.
Secure schools were proposed in a 2016 report by child behavioural expert Charlie Taylor, which criticised the amount and quality of education offered to young people in young-offender institutions.
The government announced two pilot secure schools in December 2016.
Today, justice minister Phillip Lee said: “Physical activity is key to a productive day in custody and I want education to be at the heart of the core day, with children in secure schools engaging with health and education services that are tailored to meet their individual needs.
“Secure schools will focus on the root cause of offending by intervening early to help break the cycle of reoffending - making our streets safer and diverting young people away from a life of crime.”
Tailored curriculum
Reflecting the free school programme, the government said secure schools will be given “the independence to run unique custodial establishments, shaping their own tailored curriculum with greater flexibility and control of their custodial environment”.
Existing academy trusts hoping to launch secure schools will have to set up a “new and separate secure academy trust”, rather than including them within their existing trust.
Today’s guidance document says: “A secure academy trust will be a new trust, set up separately from an existing academy trust. It will have a separate board to give strategic leadership to, and have accountability for, the performance of its secure school(s).”
The schools will operate 24 hours a day, 52 weeks a year, and successful applicants will be answerable to the Ministry of Justice rather than the Department for Education.
The secure schools will be registered both as 16-19 academies and as secure children’s homes.
The formal application process to set up secure schools is expected to open later this year.
