The most expensive education in Britain costs £60,000 per student per year (double the price of Eton College) and it’s under the spotlight again. Despite the exclusive price tag it has serious problems with gang violence and drugs—government inspectors have criticised inadequate staff training, whilst learning facilities and materials are astonishingly basic.

Of course we are not talking about a school—we are discussing Young Offender Institutions. Despite the inadequacies the popularity of this sort of education seems strong—although perhaps more with the courts than their clients. In 2010 the number of under 18s arrested was 250,000 and in 2009 the number locked up in England and Wales was greater than in almost any other developed country in the world.

Thankfully since 2010 numbers have been declining rapidly, although Britain is still way out in front when it comes to incarceration of the young. Amongst their rather select clientele last year 20% received no visits from friends or family. Unsurprisingly self-harm and violence is increasing despite the reduction in overall numbers, and the inadequacies and hopelessness of the perpetrators is becoming ever more obvious.

In a society that prioritises punishment and retribution over rehabilitation we should not be surprised that 7 out of 10 young offenders reoffend within a year of leaving.

Interestingly in 2015 even the Conservative government recognised that  a new strategy might be called for and with last year’s abolition of ASBOs there is reason to hope that future disadvantaged and unemployed young people may be offered opportunities to dig themselves out of the cycle of crime and punishment that many are currently condemned to.

Who knows, such young people might even end up making a bigger contribution to society than the judges and law makers whose rules we must all obey.