Prevent Duty

Tackling Extremism & Preventing Radicalisation 

The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 places a duty on specified authorities, including local authorities and childcare, education and other children’s services providers, in the exercise of their functions, to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism (“the Prevent duty”). Young people can be exposed to extremist influences or prejudiced views, in particular those via the internet and other social media. Schools can help to protect children from extremist and violent views in the same ways that they help to safeguard children from child sexual exploitation, drugs, gang violence or alcohol.

The Prevent strategy aims to protect vulnerable people from being drawn into terrorism. While it remains rare for children and young people to become involved in terrorist activity, young people from an early age can be exposed to terrorist & extremist influences or prejudiced views. We recognise that as with other forms of safeguarding strategies, early intervention is always preferable. Our school is committed to working with other local partners, families and communities, and we will play a key role in ensuring young people and their communities are safe from the threat of terrorism.

We also recognise that our School has a duty of care to our pupils and staff which includes safeguarding them from the risk of being drawn into terrorism. Being drawn into terrorism includes not just violent extremism but also non-violent extremism, which can create an atmosphere conducive to terrorism and can popularise views which terrorists exploit. Prevent can work within both violent and non-violent extremism arenas and can include topics such as hate crime, racism, bullying, on line safety and extreme political views.

Our School is committed to:

  • Establishing a single point of contact in terms of safeguarding.
  • Assess risk of students being drawn into terrorism.
  • Develop an action plan to reduce the risk.
  • Train staff to recognise radicalisation and extremism.
  • Refer vulnerable people to Channel.
  • Prohibit extremist speakers and events.
  • Manage access to extremist material- ICT filters
  • Be confident about British Values

We recognise that some young people, who are vulnerable to extreme views, may find it difficult to develop a sense of self worth and to view the world in a positive way. We also recognise that their behaviour may be challenging at times, and that some may cause offence or harm to others.

We will therefore always take a considered and sensitive approach in order that we can support all of our pupils by

  • providing a safe environment for children and young people to learn and develop in our school setting, and
  • identifying children and young people who are particularly vulnerable to extreme views / radicalisation, and taking appropriate action in accordance with the schools’ Safeguarding procedures with the aim of making sure they are kept safe both at home and in our school setting.
  • making appropriate referrals to the Local Authority for early intervention and support where necessary
  • ensuring that staff member(s) or governor(s) responsible for safeguarding are kept fully aware of their responsibilities, by attending relevant training and briefings
  • letting staff, parents and pupils know how to voice their concerns
  • responding to any allegations appropriately in accordance with appropriate school policies and procedures

Please click here to read ‘Tackling Extremism Safety Policy‘