All young offenders under the age of 18 are assessed. Young offenders over the age of 18 are only assessed where basic skills screening indicates a literacy or numeracy deficiency and they have been referred to a learning provider.
In the academic year 2007-08 there were a total of 7,329 learning and skills assessments carried out in young offender institutions (YOIs). 24 per cent. of those assessments showed literacy levels below level 1 with numeracy below level 1 at 33 per cent. In the same period 1,388 qualifications were achieved below level 1, 1,813 qualifications at level 1 and 771 were achieved at level 2. Assessment of individuals was not carried out on release from custody and information is not available centrally.