Radicalisation In Schools
Please click the link below to access the government’s website on education against hate.
LINK TO GOVERNMENTS WEBSITE EDUCATION AGAINST HATE
Also click on the link below to access tips for talking to someone about radicalisation.
LINK TO ACTION COUNTERS TERRORISM
Before you read this write up it is important to understand the definition of words used in and around this particular topic.
1. TERRORISM – Terrorism is unlawful. It is where violence is used to threaten or hurt people and property to further a political, racial or religious cause. It can also involve damage and disruption to the country’s electronic networks and other public services. Terrorism is an intimidation tool used to impact and affect political parties, governments and organisations.
2. EXTREMISM – Extremism is when an individual has extreme religious and/or political views (vocal or active) which causes intolerance of other faiths, democracy, political views, liberty, and the law. Extremism can be violent and non-violent. Extremists can push and call for the death of members of the armed forces.
3. FUNDAMENTALISM – This is the extreme form of a religion that strictly adheres to and upholds the basic principles and belief of the literal interpretation of religious books and scriptures.
4. RADICALISATION – This happens when an individual is brainwashed, encouraged, and manipulated to develop and believe in extreme views in support of terrorist organisations.
WHAT IS RADICALISATION IN SCHOOLS OR OTHER UK EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENTS?
Radicalisation is where a student reads, views, and listens to information and ideology by which they start to support terrorism and extremism leading to harming people and property.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR SCHEDULE 6 OF THE COUNTER TERRORISM AND SECURITY ACT 2015
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR SCHEDULE 26 OF THE COUNTER TERRORISM AND SECURITY ACT 2015
WHAT IS THE DUTY OF A SCHOOL WITH REGARDS TO RADICALISATION?
All schools and education establishments have a duty to prevent and stop students from becoming radicalised, stopping students from being coerced by extremist ideology, and being drawn into terrorism. The duty extends to stopping the promotion of extremist views within the school, and preventing an atmosphere around the school which promotes radicalisation and extremism.
All schools must include their preventative measures and procedures that prevent radicalisation in their school safeguarding policy.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS A STUDENT IS GETTING RADICALISED?
Some of the signs are:
- The online history of the student will show they have accessed hate or extremist sites
- The student can express their hate and extremist thoughts and views on their social media
- The student can become obsessive and angry about the injustice towards a certain group of people.
- The student starts blaming governments, other religious groups and organisations for the injustice towards a certain group of people.
- The student shows hate towards a particular government, religious group or organisation.
- The student shows that violence is the only way to resolve issues.
- The student starts to ostracise other students from a different religious background or views.
LINK TO ACTION COUNTERS TERRORISM – SIGNS OF RADICALISATION WHAT TO LOOK FOR.
HOW CAN SCHOOLS HELP PREVENT RADICALISM?
- Schools can promote British values of democracy, individual liberty, and respect and tolerance of other regions and beliefs to students
- Schools need to be safe areas so students can debate contentious subjects so they can learn how to question radicalisation and extremism.
WHAT IS PREVENT DUTY?
The duty an education establishment has to prevent and stop students from becoming radicalised and being drawn into terrorism is referred to as ‘prevent duty’. Prevent is a national safeguarding programme involving schools, the local authority, the police, charities and community sector workers.
If a student is referred to a prevent programme they will not get a criminal record.
Prevent also does many local support projects to help eradicate radicalisation in the community. Many charities and community groups help with this.
WHO WILL CHECK IF A SCHOOL IS DOING THEIR OBLIGATION AND DUTY WITH REGARDS TO PREVENT DUTY?
When Ofsted or any other school inspection organisation does an inspection of the school they will see what proactive and preventative measures the school has in place to stop students becoming radicalised.
WHICH EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENTS HAVE AN OBLIGATION AND DUTY TO IMPLEMENT PREVENT DUTY?
All schools, registered childcare providers, and registered early years childcare providers must implement prevent duty.
WHAT ARE THE 4 ASPECTS OF THE PREVENT DUTY SCHOOLS MUST FOCUS ON?
There are 4 aspects of prevent duty that schools must focus on and they are:
1. ASSESSING RISKS – The school staff must be aware of a student’s change of behaviour or views. They should also be aware of the local area with regards to radicalisation and be able to pick out students who are most vulnerable.
2. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY – All schools must ensure that students are safe online. Inappropriate content including radicalisation material must be filtered out.
3. SCHOOL STAFF – School staff are required to recognise and pick out students who are at risk of, students who are being and students who have been radicalised. The government (Home Office) has a programme called ‘workshop to raise awareness of prevent’ (WARP) to help school staff with their duty with regards to preventing radicalisation.
4. WORKING WITH OTHERS – Schools must work in conjunction with the local authority, the police and other local organisations to stop students from becoming radicalised.
When a student is referred to the prevent programme the local police (also referred to as the channel police practitioner CPP) will go through each case first and check it.
If the case is not one of radicalisation then the student may be referred to social services or their local authority mental health.
If the case is one where there is a risk of radicalisation the case will be forwarded to a panel chaired by the local authority. The police, social services, children’s services, healthcare providers, youth offending teams, community sector workers, schools, teachers and mental health can also make up the panel. If the panel agrees the student is at risk of radicalisation they will be asked to attend a support programme called ‘the channel programme’.
WHAT IS THE CHANNEL PROGRAMME?
This programme provides help and aid to students (and adults) who have been referred because they have been recognised to be vulnerable to radicalisation. This programme is multi-agency and gets involved in the early stages of radicalisation.
.The following agencies can be part of the channel programme:
- The police
- Healthcare providers
- Schools
- The local authority
- Children’s services
- Social workers
- Adult services
- Faith leaders
- Community services
- Voluntary services
- Youth groups
The parent or guardian of a child who has been referred to attend the channel programme must give consent. If this is not forthcoming and the child is getting radicalised at home then child services can get involved and give their consent for the child to attend.
The channel programme can provide online safety training for parents, provide mentoring, counselling, career support and mental health support.
If a student is supported by the channel programme they will be given a plan catered especially to them. This plan is reviewed every 3 – 6 months by the channel programme board to see if the plan is working. Once a student leaves the programme their case is reviewed after 12 months.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBPAGE FOR WORKING TOGETHER TO SAFEGUARD CHILDREN
WHO CAN YOU REPORT RADICALISATION TO?
You can call the police – You can dial 999 if you or your child is at risk or a crime has been committed. Alternatively if there is no emergency you can dial 101 or file a report online.
LINK TO POLICE WEBSITE TO REPORT A CRIME ONLINE
You can contact Crimestoppers – You can report a crime anonymously to crimestoppers. Their telephone number is 0800 555 111
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR CRIMESTOPPERS.
WHERE CAN YOU AS A PARENT TALK, GET HELP AND ADVICE?
You can contact NSPCC – If your child is being radicalised you can contact the NSPCC and speak to them about your concerns. If the child is in danger they will call the police.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR NSPCC – CONTACT US
You can contact FAMILY LIVES – Family lives was previously known as parentline. You can speak to them about your concerns that your child is being radicalised.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR FAMILY LIVES – CONTACT US
You can contact SAMARITANS – The samaritans are a free organisation that you can talk to about your concerns. Call their helpline on 116 123. They are available 24 hours a day. You can email them, chat online or write them a letter.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR SAMARITANS – CONTACT US
You can contact SUPPORTLINE – Supportline can provide confidential emotional support over the phone about your concerns. Their helpline number is 01708 765 200. You can also email them.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR SUPPORTLINE – CONTACT US
You can contact your local authority child services – You can call them directly or look on their website to see if there are any local support groups where you can get support
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO FIND YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY
You can contact VICTIM SUPPORT – Victim support is a charity that can help individuals who have been the victim of a crime. They have a free confidential support telephone line and live chat. They are independent of the police.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR VICTIM SUPPORT – CONTACT US
You can contact other organisations –
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE 16 – CONNECT WITH CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS THAT COULD HELP YOU.
You can read our help guide for where you can reach out to get help if your child is a victim –
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR WHERE CAN YOU REACH OUT TO GET HELP IF YOUR CHILD IS A VICTIM
WHERE CAN YOUR CHILD TALK, GET HELP AND ADVICE?
Your child can contact CHILDLINE – If your child has suffered from radicalisation and they need to talk to someone, they can call childline.