http://www.estyn.gov.uk/press_releases/Final_Quality_of_education_in_youth_justice_system.pdf


News release


Education and training for young people under youth justice
supervision in Wales

Wednesday, 19 July, 2006


Estyn, the education and training inspectorate for Wales, today highlights
education and training projects that help young people in the youth justice
system.

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector for Education and Training in Wales, Susan Lewis,
recently met the local Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly ‘Crime of your life’ team in
Blackwood to find out more about their project – a case study in Estyn’s report.

Susan Lewis says, “Too many barriers prevent young people in the youth justice
system from getting appropriate education and training. There is a big gap in
education provision.

“Many young people under the supervision of youth offending teams (YOTs) are
permanently excluded from schools. Too many of them do not receive the
recommended 25 hours a week in their alternative placements. This has a
negative impact on their life chances and hampers the efforts of the youth justice
system to reduce crime.

“However, Estyn’s report is positive about many projects that are tackling the
problems. Across Wales there is now more willingness among organisations to
work in partnership for the benefit of young people in the youth justice system.”

Estyn invited all Youth Offending Teams and local education authorities in Wales
to take part in a survey on education and training for the young people who were
in the youth justice system on 13 September 2005.

Key findings of the survey are:

• 1,747 young people were being supervised in the community through the
13 Youth Offending Teams that responded to the survey.


• Almost a quarter of young people of statutory school age were receiving
less than 25 hours of appropriate education each week;

• In all, 531 of the young people - 30% of the total under supervision at that
time - were not receiving any education or training.

• The percentage was even higher among those in the 16 – 19 year old age
group. Nearly half were not receiving any education or training.

• 13 of the Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) in Wales took part. The other
five did not respond to Estyn.

• 14 out of the 22 local authorities in Wales took part. Eight did not respond.

The education and training inspectorate for Wales warns that local authorities are
not fulfilling their statutory duty. They all ought to provide excluded young people
with 25 hours of supervised education or activity a week.

In addition, many young people over 16 under supervision do not have access to
enough:
• placements in work-based learning;
• opportunities for subsidised jobs; or
• support with basic skills.

Estyn recommends that the Welsh Assembly Government (and the Youth Justice
Board where appropriate) should make sure:

• local authorities provide all young people who are of school age and under
the supervision of YOTs with full-time education; and

• all young people who offend have access to support and guidance from
Careers Wales advisers.

Notes to Editors:

• Estyn’s report “The quality of education and training provision for young
people in the youth justice system” is published today at www.estyn.gov.uk
The report was commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government.

• Susan Lewis launched the report on Thursday 13 July when she met
members of the ‘Crime of your life’ project team at Blackwood.

• The ‘Crime of your life’ project is organised by Gwent Police School
Liaison Officers who bring together the Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent
YOT Team, Ebbw Vale College, magistrates in the community and the
Prison Service. In Blaenau Gwent it is supported financially by the Crime
Prevention Panel and Safer Blaenau Gwent.

• Estyn’s report says that, generally, young people who offend have poor
basic skills. Often they are temporarily or permanently excluded from
school.

• The majority of those referred to youth offending teams have behavioural,
emotional and social difficulties. They need help in order to manage their
behaviour successfully.

• However, if they receive appropriate education and personal support they
take significant steps in becoming re-engaged in learning and develop
important personal and practical skills.

• When young people gain recognised qualifications and / or improve their
behaviour, confidence and self-esteem they are more likely to reduce their
offending and get and keep a job.

• A recent report (Persistent young offenders: a retrospective study Youth
Justice Board 2005) has found that almost half those leaving custody have
been in local authority care at some point. Nearly a third have mental
health difficulties. Just over half have been dependent on a substance.
Over a third of girls and a quarter of boys reported suffering violence at
home.

Young women who offend

• All responses to Estyn’s survey drew attention to the complex needs of
young women. They offend less often but when they are convicted it is
often for serious offences. They are often isolated when they are in the
youth justice system.

• Not enough young women have the help that meets their behaviour and
health needs at the same time as providing education and training.

• The recent Youth Justice Board report found that young women have often
been the victims of sexual abuse. They also have poor self esteem and a
tendency to self harm.

• Estyn’s survey on the hours of education and training that young people
receive showed that the total number of young people under supervision
by 13 (out of 18) YOTs in Wales on 13 September 2005 was:
1747 (total male: 1468, total female: 279).









• Table showing the hours of education / training received

10-14 14-16 16-19 Age/gender of
young people Male Female Male Female Male Female

25 hours
120 19 324 91 473 69

10-20 hours
18 2 30 6 25 8

less than10
hours

3 1 18 4 4 1
no education /
training
7 1 81 16 365 61


For further information and interview opportunities please contact:
Alexandra Doel
Communications, Media and Marketing Team
Estyn
communications@estyn.gsi.gov.uk
02920 446464