The horrific attack in Southport and the violent unrest that followed has sparked widespread concern across the country. Over 1,000 people have since been arrested, including children as young as 11 years old. These troubling events are part of a wider trend of growing extremism, as record numbers of children are being referred to Prevent due to concerns over Extreme Right-Wing ideologies. In this blog, we will explore the responsibilities of schools to safeguard children against radicalisation and address the rising threat of extremism.
Last year, there were a total of 6,817 referrals to Prevent, an increase of 6.4% compared to the previous year. The largest increase in referrals came from the education sector. In total, more than 2,100 children under the age of 15 were referred, making up 31% of all referrals. Of these, 462 expressed Extreme Right-Wing ideologies, compared to 182 Islamist referrals.
This alarming trend is a crucial reminder of the importance of protecting children against radicalisation. Schools in particular have a critical role to play in promoting our shared values and equipping pupils with the knowledge and skills to explore socio-political issues with a critical mindset. This helps to build resilience against extremist narratives.
What are your school’s responsibilities to prevent radicalisation?
Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2024 states that protecting children from the risk of radicalisation should be part of a school or colleges safeguarding approach, similar to protecting children from other forms of harm and abuse. The guidance uses the following definitions:
Radicalisation: | The process of a person legitimising support for, or use of, terrorist violence. |
| Terrorism: | An action that endangers or causes serious violence to a person/people; causes serious damage to property; or seriously interferes or disrupts an electronic system. The use or threat must be designed to influence the government or to intimidate the public and is made for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause. |
As of March 2024, the government has introduced a new definition of extremism. This provides a stricter characterisation that can be used to ensure extremist organisations and individuals are not being legitimised or given a platform through their interactions with the government.
Extremism: | The promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance, that aims to: negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others; orundermine, overturn or replace the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights; orintentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve the results in (1) or (2). |
The Department for Education (DfE) is set to review guidance to account for this change, but until any updates are made, schools should continue to follow the existing guidance and implement their policies in the same way.
Whilst terrorism and extremism have very distinct definitions, both pose a threat to pupils. As with other safeguarding risks, school staff should be alert to changes in children’s behaviour which could indicate they may be in need of help or protection.
What are your school’s responsibilities under Prevent Duty?
Under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, all schools and colleges have a duty to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism”. This is known as the Prevent duty. It covers all types of extremism and should be seen as part of your schools’ wider safeguarding obligations in order to help you protect pupils from radicalising influences.
It’s important to note that making a Prevent referral is not an accusation of criminality and should not affect a pupils’ education or future prospects. Rather, Prevent aims to offer early intervention and support to individuals before they act on violent ideologies, steering them away from harmful and criminal pathways.
Prevent duty guidance sets out a number of practices and processes to help schools comply with the Prevent duty. This includes:
- Taking a balanced and risk-based approach
Making sure that when you apply Prevent, you take into account the local and national terrorism risk.
- Training and awareness
Making sure that all relevant staff can recognise the signs of radicalisation and know how to respond to concerns.
- Working in partnership
Demonstrating effective and productive cooperation, in particular with local Prevent coordinators, the police, and local authorities.
- Sharing information
Using your professional judgement to take appropriate steps to share information when you have a concern. Information should be handled sensitively and be proportionate to the situation.
How to hold difficult conversations
Teachers and other education professionals are uniquely placed to help learners challenge extremist narratives and ideologies. Now that schools are open again, it is likely that pupils will have a number of thoughts and questions about the events that unfolded this summer. Whilst discussing complex issues can be daunting, don’t be afraid to use this as an opportunity for learning. Schools can play a pivotal role in safeguarding against radicalisation by providing a safe space where pupils can discuss complex topics, confidently express their perspective, and respectfully challenge others’ views.
Share the following tips with your staff to boost their confidence in discussing radicalisation, extremism, and terrorism.
- Create a safe environment
Navigating difficult, and often distressing topics, can be tricky – especially when pupils have conflicting views. But remember that creating a safe and controlled environment in the classroom is one of the best places for these conversations to take place – a space where children can listen, ask questions, and debate others respectfully, supported by the gentle guidance of a professional.
- Establish boundaries
When approaching a sensitive topic, it is important to set out ground rules with pupils. For example, ensuring that only one person speaks at a time, recognising that people can disagree without being disrespectful, and making sure no one makes personal comments. This allows everyone to be open, honest, and ready to learn from one another.
- Use resources
It’s best to plan ahead for difficult conversations, rather than waiting for them to happen spontaneously. But knowing how to open up these conversations can be challenging. The government website Educate Against Hate has a number of free resources, from lesson plans and activities, through to presentations, videos, and assemblies. Use these to scaffold conversations in school, ensuring there is opportunity for pupils to learn the skills of dialogue and critical thinking.
- Promote British Values
Remind pupils to reflect on the British Values of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those of different beliefs and faith. These are powerful tools to help children think critically and construct arguments against extremist narratives. For some pupils, especially younger children, British Values can feel like abstract concepts, so remember that the best thing your school can do is to embody them in daily life. This way, pupils can draw on real-life examples of how British Values are essential to sustaining a happy, safe and secure society.
- Seek support
Remember, you’re not alone! If you are unsure of how to approach a sensitive topic with your pupils, speak to one of your senior leaders or designated safeguarding lead, who will be able to answer questions, offer advice, and even co-deliver a session alongside you. Similarly, if children ask you a question that you’re not sure how to answer, don’t panic! Simply tell pupils you will get back to them and take time to discuss the matter with a colleague, refer to the relevant guidance and resources, and then respond when you are ready.
How to report concerns
Having difficult conversations with pupils and listening to their responses may raise concerns about certain individuals. It is essential that you report any concerns to your designated safeguarding lead so that the appropriate support can be put in place.
For additional support, you can:
- Speak with your Prevent coordinator, Prevent Education Officer (PEO), or your local authority school safeguarding team
- Contact your local police force or dial 101 (the non-emergency police number)
The police and local authority will be able to discuss your concerns, suggest how they can best help the child, and signpost you to the relevant support and advice. Please bear in mind that contacting the authorities won’t get your pupil into trouble if a criminal act hasn’t been committed.
We hope this blog has helped you to understand your roles and responsibilities to protect children against the risks of radicalisation, extremism, and terrorism. With experienced staff, quality resources, and of course the rich diversity of their communities, schools are uniquely placed to counter extremist ideologies and promote our shared British values in the aftermath of recent unrest this summer.
To learn more about this topic, we’re excited to welcome Odd Arts to the Safeguarding Conference, taking place on Friday, 8 November 2024.
A Manchester charity that delivers theatre-based programmes to challenge inequalities, Odd Arts will deliver a powerful performance of the hard-hitting play, Here and Now. The play focuses on the social realities of hateful extremism, including the far right and international terrorism.
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