Secure School

Secure schools are a new form of youth custody intended to align the UK’s youth custodial estate with international, evidence-based therapeutic and rehabilitation approaches. 

Following recommendations in the 2016 Taylor Review of the Youth Justice System in England and Wales, the then-Government’s 2019 manifesto committed to trialling secure schools run by specialist, child-focused providers required to place education, health and purposeful activity at the heart of youth custody. 

The Government’s vision is that secure schools will have child-focused providers, strong leaders (Headteachers) with freedom and autonomy, a specialised workforce, and holistic provision with education, healthcare and physical activity at its heart.  Secure schools have been defined by the Ministry of Justice as “schools with security” rather than “prisons with education”. 

Secure schools will be dual established as Secure Children’s Homes and 16-19 academies . In the long term the Government’s intention is that secure schools will replace Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) and Secure Training Centres (STCs). Secure schools are expected to offer places to around 60-70 young people who currently go to YOIs and STCs. The security level at a secure school is equivalent to a SCH rather than to a YOI or STC. 

The first secure school, Oasis Restore Secure School, opened in 2024 in Rochester, Kent and will be home to up to 49 children (both boys and girls) at any one time.  Oasis Restore will care for children aged between 12-18 who are on remand or sentenced to custody and every child is enrolled in formal education or training.