Radicalisation - the Prevent duty
About Prevent
Schools now have a legal duty to prevent young people from being drawn to terrorism (since 1 July 2015). Schools should be alert to issues around staff, pupils and parents.
This page aims to provide you with relevant information to support you with the implementation of the Prevent duty in your school
This page covers the following:
- How to make a referral
- Promoting fundamental British values
- Resources for teachers and school leaders
What is the Prevent duty?
The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (Parliament.UK) puts a responsibility on schools to participate in work to prevent young people from being drawn into terrorism, and to challenge extremist ideas that support, or are shared by, terrorist groups.
Schools and settings (see specified authorities above) are subject to the duty to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism as part of their wider safeguarding responsibilities. Settings should not only be alert to violent extremism but also non-violent extremism, including certain divisive or intolerant narratives which can reasonably be linked to terrorism.
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. Similar duties are placed on the proprietors of independent schools, including academies (but not 16-19 academies) by the Independent School Standards.
Please read the DfE guidance below to support a measured implementation of the duty:
Prevent duty guidance: England and Wales (2023)
The Prevent duty: safeguarding learners vulnerable to radicalisation
Working together to safeguard children
Keeping children safe in education
What is Channel?
Channel is a multiagency safeguarding programme which aims to support people who are vulnerable to radicalisation.
It focuses on early intervention to protect vulnerable people who might be susceptible to radicalisation, through providing such individuals with an appropriate support package based on their needs.
Key partners include the police, local authority Prevent team, social care and other professionals who may be able to support with individual’s case. As a key professional for children, you may be invited to be a part of the panel if necessary.
Channel support is voluntary and confidential, and includes assistance with risk factors associated with each individual case. For example, this could include (but is not limited to) ideological mentoring, health or education support.
Here is more information on the Channel programme
What schools need to know
To comply with the Prevent duty, schools must be able to show evidence of:
- effective partnership (with local authority Prevent lead, police and local authority children’s services, local children’s safeguarding partnership, regional DfE Prevent coordinator), in order to understand local risks, to get advice on concerns and to make referrals.
- effective training of staff, so that they are aware of the current risks locally and nationally, concerning behaviours and the referral process.
- risk assessment to ensure the safety of all learners in their care
- relevant policies and procedures generally those which pertain to safeguarding, should also extend to cover Prevent.
Effective partnership
Effective partnership is an integral part of reducing the risk of radicalisation. Schools should engage in productive cooperation with key partners, in particular Prevent staff, the police and local authorities. Schools should engage with these partners to support their understanding of local and national threats, to make referrals and with support for students in their care, if necessary.
Training
All staff should have Prevent awareness training, so that they are able to:
- understand what Prevent is and what this means for them
- recognise concerns around the risk of radicalisation
- know how to report concerns should they arise.
It is recommended that staff undertake free awareness training at least every two years.
Designated safeguarding leads should also be aware of the referral process and the support that is available for individuals who are at risk of radicalisation. Here is a link to the free refrerral course training
Risk assessment
Schools are required to consider the potential risks related to radicalisation and extremism that may be present whilst students are in their care. This should take place in the form of a dedicated Prevent risk assessment, or can be part of your existing safeguarding risk assessment.
You can access guidance from the DfE, along with appropriate templates for your Prevent risk assessment here: DfE guidance: Prevent duty risk assessment templates
There is also support available for relevant staff on understanding and identifying radicalisation risk in your education setting
Local risk profile
The local risk profile is a document used to inform your risk assessment. It summarises the current issues related to extremism, radicalisation and terrorism that affect our local borough. The information can also be used to brief relevant staff members about current local issues.
Our local risk profile in Ealing is sent annually to schools via gatekeeping and through the DSL network.
Ealing local risk profile 2024 (pdf) * log in to view.
*An EGfL user account is required to view this document. Register for an EGfL user account.
Please note: As this document contains sensitive information, it should only be used for its intended purpose, and not shared widely nor posted on any public platforms.
Relevant policies and procedures
Departmental advice states that it is not necessary for schools to have a distinct policy on implementing the Prevent duty, but it should at least be incorporated into the school’s existing safeguarding policy. This should be regularly updated to consider different threats that arise.
How to make a referral
If you have concerns around a child being at risk of radicalisation, please use our Prevent incident of concern flowchart (pdf) to help you.
If you need to report concerns around radicalisation in your school, please use the Ealing Prevent referral form
Before sharing information, you should try to get consent from the parents or carers (if under 18). Do not do this if it would place the child or young person at more risk of harm.
Once completed, please send to preventreferrals@met.pnn.police.uk copying in the council’s Prevent mailbox prevent@ealing.gov.uk.
For more information, please visit Ealing Council Prevent webpage
For concerns around staff members, you should make a referral to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
If there are other safeguarding concerns, then a separate referral should be made to ECIRS following the usual referral procedure mentioning that a Prevent referral has been made.
If you would like to discuss any concerns prior to making a referral, please share the concern via the ACT early helpline
For more information about referrals, please read the guidance Making a referral to Prevent (GOV.UK)
Promoting fundamental British values
In order to challenge extremist narrative, schools should aim to incorporate values of rule of law, democracy, individual liberty, and tolerance and mutual respect. This can be included both in the curriculum, as part of the wider school culture.
The Educate Against Hate website has useful resources for staff to use.
Resources for teachers and school leaders
You can get more guidance, resources and practical advice from:
- Educate Against Hate
- ETF Learners from the Education and Learning Foundation
- ACT - Action Counters Terrorism
- Notice, check, share procedure
