Prevent

Revised PREVENT Duty Guidance March 2016

The aim of the Prevent strategy is to reduce the threat to the UK from terrorism by stopping people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. In the Act this has simply been expressed as the need to “prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. The 2011 Prevent strategy has three specific strategic objectives:

• respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those who promote it;

• prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate advice and support;

• work with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation that we need to address.

All publicly-funded schools in England are required by law to teach a broad and balanced curriculum which promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils and prepares them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life. They must also promote community cohesion and British Values.

The iCollege meets this requirement through ethos, vision, PSE, British Values Week, and equality of opportunity.

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. Schools should be safe spaces in which children and young people can understand and discuss sensitive topics, including terrorism and the extremist ideas that are part of terrorist ideology, and learn how to challenge these ideas. The Prevent duty is not intended to limit discussion of these issues. Schools should, however, be mindful of their existing duties to forbid political indoctrination and secure a balanced presentation of political issues. These duties are imposed on maintained schools by sections 406 and 407 of the Education Act 1996.

The iCollege makes sure that staff have training that gives them the knowledge and confidence to identify children at risk of being drawn into terrorism, and to challenge extremist ideas which can be used to legitimise terrorism and are shared by terrorist groups. They should know where and how to refer children and young people for further help. Prevent awareness training will be a key part of this.

The Headteacher received formal PREVENT strategy training on 1st July 2015.

Although currently considered a 'low risk' area, on January 22nd 2016, Lisa Moore HMI visited West Berkshire educational settings (1 x primary, 1 x secondary, 1 x alternative provision) to review what  the local authority was doing to support the PREVENT agenda. Following her interview with the ACS, now iCollege Headteacher, it was reported that she 'received quality information'.