PREVENT DUTY

Wolston St Margaret's is committed to providing a secure environment for pupils, where children feel safe and are kept safe. All adults in our school recognise that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility irrespective of the role they undertake or whether their role has direct contact or responsibility for children or not. 

Prevent is a Government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes. The Prevent strategy covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including the extreme right wing, violent Islamic groups and other causes. 

How Prevent strategy applies to schools?

From July 2015 all schools (as well as other organisations) have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism.

This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views the same way we protect them from drugs or gang violence.

Importantly, we can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues so they better understand how to protect themselves.

What does this mean in practice?

Many of the things we already do in school to help children become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy.

These include: 

• Exploring other cultures and religions and promoting diversity
• Challenging prejudices and racist comments
• Learning how to resolve conflict peacefully, for example with a mediated discussion
• Developing thinking skills and a strong, positive self-identity
• Building confidence and the ability to form their own opinions
• Giving children the opportunity to discuss controversial issues in a safe environment
• Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils
• Establishing a culture based on our School Values
• Learning about how to stay safe online and what to do if you come across something you don’t like
• Teaching and promoting the four ‘British Values’:
  • Democracy
  • The rule of law
  • Individual liberty
  • Mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs

We will also protect children from the risk of radicalisation, for example by using filters on the internet to make sure they can’t access extremist and terrorist material, or by vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils.