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Young offenders centre closes over safety concerns | Young offenders centre closes over safety concerns |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The average cost per person per year at the school was £250,000 | The average cost per person per year at the school was £250,000 |
All young offenders are to be pulled out of England's first "secure school" due to safety concerns, it has been announced. | All young offenders are to be pulled out of England's first "secure school" due to safety concerns, it has been announced. |
Oasis Restore in Kent, which rehabilitates children who have committed serious crimes including murder, opened in 2024 following a £40m renovation. | |
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ), which is responsible for the building, said the school's doors needed fixing due to a design problem, which made them "vulnerable to damage". | The Ministry of Justice (MoJ), which is responsible for the building, said the school's doors needed fixing due to a design problem, which made them "vulnerable to damage". |
It added it took issues at the Rochester site "extremely seriously" and was working to get them addressed. | It added it took issues at the Rochester site "extremely seriously" and was working to get them addressed. |
An Ofsted report from April found some doors were so damaged they could not lock and children could move around more freely than usual in some areas. | |
Children were making weapons out of everyday items as they felt unsafe and anxious, it added. | |
'We care about these children' | 'We care about these children' |
Oasis founder the Reverend Steve Chalke told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the school had been doing "really well" and that he was "proud" of its work. | Oasis founder the Reverend Steve Chalke told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the school had been doing "really well" and that he was "proud" of its work. |
But he said they had to take the "painful and regrettable" decision to close after discovering a few months into taking it on that children could cause doors to collapse by running into them. | But he said they had to take the "painful and regrettable" decision to close after discovering a few months into taking it on that children could cause doors to collapse by running into them. |
"We care about these children. They've been let down all through their lives," said Mr Chalke. | "We care about these children. They've been let down all through their lives," said Mr Chalke. |
"We needed to shut for their safety and for the safety of our staff." | "We needed to shut for their safety and for the safety of our staff." |
Up to 49 children were at the school at any one time | Up to 49 children were at the school at any one time |
Oasis Restore was hailed by Mr Chalke as a "revolution in youth justice" when it opened, where young offenders were given one-on-one support and trained with workshops, such as catering and barbering. | |
Offenders at the facility, aged between 12 and 18, were called students and staff known as teachers and restore practitioners. | Offenders at the facility, aged between 12 and 18, were called students and staff known as teachers and restore practitioners. |
Up to 49 children were at the school at any one time - at an average cost of £250,000 per person each year. | Up to 49 children were at the school at any one time - at an average cost of £250,000 per person each year. |
They had individual rooms and there were no bars on the windows as the site, which was designed to have a community feel. | They had individual rooms and there were no bars on the windows as the site, which was designed to have a community feel. |
The MoJ said there was no damage to external doors. | The MoJ said there was no damage to external doors. |
It said that fewer than 10 children were being supported at the school as they move to another site in the coming days. | It said that fewer than 10 children were being supported at the school as they move to another site in the coming days. |
Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. | Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. |