Prevent is a government strategy intended to stop people becoming terrorists, or supporting terrorist/extremist causes.
The Prevent strategy covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including the extreme right wing, violent Islamist groups and other causes.
How does the Prevent strategy apply to schools?
From July 2015 all schools (and 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 outlooks the same way we protect them from drugs or violence.
Most importantly, we can provide a safe place for students to discuss these issues so that they can have a better understanding on how to protect themselves, now and in the future.
What does this mean in practice?
At TWS we have a range of techniques we already have in place to teach our students to be safe from radicalisation, we teach them in the same way to be safe from gangs or exploitation.
Many of the things we already do in school to help students become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy.
These include:
Learning about other religions, understanding different beliefs and encouraging diversity.
Developing thinking skills and supporting students to have a positive self-identity.
Learning how to resolve conflict peacefully, for example with a mediated discussion
Challenging preconceptions and racial remarks
Supporting Safe, Happy and Learning Together (SHaLT) development (SMSC - spiritual, moral, social and cultural) besides promoting British Values and our own TWS Values.
We also protect students from radicalisation by using internet filters, so they can’t access extremist material, and by vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils.
Different schools will have different strategies on how to carry out the prevent duty, depending on the age and congnitive ability of the students.
