Prevent
What is Prevent?
Our aim is to protect children from extremist and violent views in the same ways that we help to safeguard them from drugs, violence or alcohol.
Prevent is a government initiative to protect people from extremist and violent views.
The Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 places a duty on specified authorities, including local authorities and childcare, education and other children’s service providers, in the exercise of their functions, to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn in 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.
We deliver this through:
Teaching students about British Values
We understand the importance of British values: democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs. Through our Curriculum for Life (PSHE) we:
- Educate students about the dangers of racism and how it can lead to extreme behaviours.
- Explore what makes a young person susceptible to racist or extreme thoughts, behaviours and actions
- Highlight the dangers of becoming involved with extremist groups and engaging in extremist behaviour
- Help students to think more critically about the information they receive in order to help them reject racism and prejudice.
Understanding and respect for other religions and cultures
Through Religious Education, Curriculum for Life and other lessons we develop awareness and appreciation of other cultures – in R.S one example would be the topic how Islam is portrayed in the media, in English through fiction and stories from other cultures and in Art by considering culture and art from other parts of the world.
During collective worship students are introduced to symbols, stories, traditions and celebrations used in other faiths and religions, this allows students to gain a far wider view of the world around them.
Our School values
The school holds 5 core values at the heart of its mission: Love, forgiveness, courage, peace and equality. These values are used in the daily life of the school and students are reminded about them regularly during assemblies and collective worship.
Training
Key staff in school have had training directly from counter terrorism police. All staff have completed the Government's Prevent Awareness online training.
Prevent Awareness teaches staff what radicalisation, extremism and terrorism are, and what to do if they come across any concerning behaviours, so that they can help people when they need it most.
Sixth Form and Reveal Theatre
Our Sixth Form students have worked with Reveal Theatre and its Game On initiative in the past, and we hope to do so again this year.
Game On is a project that has worked with the Prevent agenda since 2007, using drama interventions to challenge extremist ideologies from Reveal Theatre’s experiences with extremist groups based in the UK.
Game On is a Home Office Best Practice project and has come top of the Home Office's evaluation and monitoring process; It has worked closely with the Behavioural Insights Team for Prevent in measuring the positive impacts of the Game On project. The workshop addresses the local pressures of the Far Right, as well as the ongoing threat from Islamist extremism that seeks to divide communities and recruit from both Muslim and non-Muslim profiles and backgrounds.
What to do if you're worried about someone?
You’re best placed to spot when something’s not right with someone close. So trust your instincts and share your concerns in confidence with the police.
The earlier you share your worries, the quicker the person you care about can get the help they need to protect them from being groomed and radicalised.
To find out more about how to help someone close to you visit actearly.uk which is a helpful resource with advice, practical tips on how to start a conversation with someone you’re worried about, online safety advice and real stories.
You can also call the national police Prevent advice line 0800 011 3764, in confidence, to share your concerns with specially trained officers.
If it's an emergency, please call 999.
If you see online material promoting terrorism or extremism, you can report it online.