At St Anne’s Catholic Primary School, we believe it is important to celebrate the diverse and multicultural communities within which we live. As part of our curriculum we provide a safe, accepting learning environment where children can ask open questions about a range of challenging issues and develop a greater understanding and acceptance of different beliefs and cultures.
As part of our ongoing safeguarding and child protection duties we are fully behind the government’s Prevent Strategy. This strategy is designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes.
From July 2015 all schools have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism. The Counter Terrorism and Security Act places a duty on schools to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.” This duty is known as the Prevent Duty for Schools. This means schools have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views, in the same way we protect them from drugs or gang violence. Providing our pupils with a safe environment enables them to talk about these issues so that they better understand how to protect themselves. This is delivered at an age appropriate level and reflects the promotion of British values: democracy, the rule of law, Individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.
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 (behaviour which contradicts any aspect of Equality Law)
- Developing thinking skills and a strong, positive self-identity
- Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, as well as British values such as democracy
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, extreme or terrorist material, or by vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Prevent relate to British values?
Schools have been required to promote British values since 2014, and this will continue to be part of our response to the Prevent strategy.
British values include:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty and mutual respect
- Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs
Isn’t my child too young to learn about extremism?
The Prevent strategy is not simply about discussing extremism itself, which may not be appropriate for younger children. It is also about teaching children values such as tolerance and mutual respect.
The school will make sure any discussions are suitable for the age and maturity of the children involved.
Is extremism really a risk in our area?
Extremism can take many forms, including political, religious and misogynistic extremism. Some of these may be a bigger threat in our area than others.
We will give children the skills to protect them from any extremist views they may encounter, now or later in their lives.
Key Terms
Extremism – vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values such as democracy, the rule of law and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs
Ideology – a set of beliefs
Terrorism – a violent action against people or property, designed to create fear and advance a political, religious or ideological cause
Radicalisation – the process by which a person comes to support extremist behaviour