28 June 2012 Last updated at 10:16 ET

Cookham Wood young offenders IT course praised by Ofsted

Many of the young people who took the course had not been in traditional education for many years

A new computing course taught at a young offenders institution in Rochester has been praised by Ofsted.

Lecturers from Canterbury College at the Isle of Sheppey have been teaching Level 1 Digital Media Creator to young offenders aged 15-18 at Cookham Wood.

There was a high pass rate for the course which teaches the basics of creative digital media.

Jan Hughes from Canterbury College said: "The lessons are very creative, which helps to engage the students.

"This course has really caught their imagination which is why they have made such good progress."

Ofsted inspector Martyn Rowbottom had described it as a "very good course with good resettlement" which offered "further education possibilities".

'New skills'

Many of those who had taken the course had not been in traditional education for many years.

Emily Thomas, governor of Cookham Wood, said she is set to begin talks with Canterbury College about ensuring it continues to be taught there until at least 2014.

She said: "Many of our young people have enjoyed this course and it has equipped them with new skills which will help provide them with opportunities once released."

Course leaders said the Level 1 ITQ qualification can lead to further IT and media qualifications.