Committees

Secure training centres and secure schools

Inquiry

In 2016, the Taylor Review of the youth justice system recommended reforms to youth custody including the introduction of secure schools – which would be small local establishments, governed and inspected as schools – to replace other custodial provision for young people including secure training centres (STCs), which were designed to accommodate and educate more vulnerable young people.  

The government originally committed to establishing the first secure school in 2020, but it is delayed. Meanwhile, joint inspections have highlighted declining conditions in the three STCs: Medway STC closed in March 2020 and the two remaining sites, Rainsbrook and Oakhill, were subject to adverse inspections in 2021. The joint inspections highlighted increasing levels of bullying, violence, and unacceptable practices.  

The Committee will question senior officials at the Ministry of Justice and HM Prisons & Probation Service on these recent challenges with STCs, the current conditions of youth offenders in secure custody and current progress with establishing a secure school.  

If you have evidence on these issues please submit it here by 6pm Monday 23 May 2022.

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was Monday 23 May 2022.

Reports, special reports and government responses

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Thirteenth Report - Secure training centres and secure schools
Inquiry Secure training centres and secure schools
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Report
Response to this report
Correspondence from Amy Rees, Chief Executive, HM Prison and Probation Service, re Public Accounts Committee: Secure Schools, dated 1 September 2023
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Correspondence
Response to this report
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Thirteenth report from Session 2022-23
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Government Response

Oral evidence transcripts

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25 May 2022
Inquiry Secure training centres and secure schools
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Oral Evidence

Written evidence

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Rob Allen (STC0001)
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The Local Government Association (STC0002)
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The Traveller Movement (STC0003)
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Other publications

Government Responses
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Correspondence
Committees exchange letters with government departments and others, often to request information or follow up on recommendations.
1 published

Contact us

  • Email: pubaccom@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 5776 (general enquiries) | 020 7219 8480 (media enquiries)
  • Address: Public Accounts Committee, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA