REDDITCH MP Chris Bloore has been appointed to serve on the House of Commons Committee scrutinising the Secure 16 to 19 Academies Bill — a piece of legislation that aims to transform how education is delivered to young people in custody.
Nominated by the House of Commons Committee of Selection, the MP joins the specialist committee as it held its first meeting on Wednesday July 2.
The committee will now examine the Bill clause by clause, hear evidence from experts and ensure this new law is fit for purpose before it returns to the House for further debate.
The Secure 16 to 19 Academies Bill, which has cross-party and Government support, focuses on secure schools — specialist academies for children aged 16 to 19 who have been sentenced or remanded to custody.
These secure academies represent a significant shift from the old model of youth custody, operating as schools with security rather than prisons with education.
The Bill introduces several key measures to strengthen how these institutions are governed, including establishing a clear notice period for terminating funding agreements, reducing it from seven years to two, better reflecting the nature of custodial sentences and ensuring value for money.
It will also place a statutory duty on the Secretary of State to consider the impact on existing educational institutions when deciding whether to establish or expand a secure academy and will streamline the consultation processes, removing irrelevant requirements.
The reforms also underpin the Government’s broader strategy to phase out young offender institutions and secure training centres in favour of a modern network of secure schools, following the recommendations of the 2016 Taylor Review.
The first such school, Oasis Restore in Medway provides this new approach for up to 49 young people.
Mr Bloore said: “Secure schools mark a vital shift in how we support young people in the justice system – putting education, rehabilitation and future opportunities at the heart of their time in custody.
“This Bill will help cut red tape, deliver better integrated services and protect taxpayers’ money. Most importantly, it will give some of the most vulnerable young people in our society a genuine chance to turn their lives around.”
