Equipment and facilities are lacking - access to computers is restricted because of security

Howard League report

The offenders were more likely to re-offend if they did not receive a good education while in prison, the charity warned.

The curriculum on offer is often too narrow, the report says.

"Equipment and facilities are lacking - access to computers is restricted because of security, while opportunities for vocational training often remain available only to older prisoners," it adds.

Director of the Howard League Frances Crook said too little attention was being paid to the educational needs of children in prison.

But educational achievement was "a crucial factor in successful rehabilitation", Mr Crook said.

"Education in prison should be focused on the individual and be able to engage the young person. It should be a priority within the prison regime," he said.

School exclusions

Director general of the Prison Service, Martin Narey, accused the Howard League of failing to recognise that most young offenders had had little or no schooling.

"Eighty-five per cent of the young people the Howard League interviewed had been excluded from secondary school," he said.

"They cannot immediately be put into classrooms for 30 hours a week in the naive hope that they will suddenly get down to work."

Mr Narey said education for this age group was a huge priority.

"I now have the funds from the Youth Justice Board to make a difference and as a result we are beginning to see evidence of young people achieving their first ever educational qualifications," he said.