Under the Prevent duty, schools are legally required to have "due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism." This means schools must take proactive steps to safeguard children and young people from radicalisation and extremist influences as part of their wider safeguarding obligations. Specifically, schools must:
- Conduct a Prevent risk assessment to evaluate how learners or staff might be vulnerable to radicalisation, including online risks.
- Implement robust safeguarding policies and procedures to identify and support students at risk of radicalisation.
- Ensure staff are trained to recognize and respond to signs of radicalisation.
- Foster a safe environment where students can discuss sensitive topics like terrorism and extremism, promoting resilience through values-based education and critical thinking.
- Work in partnership with local Prevent authorities, safeguarding boards, police, and other agencies.
- Have clear protocols for referrals to support services such as Channel, a multi-agency panel offering support to at-risk individuals.
- Manage risks related to external speakers and activities, ensuring they are suitable and properly supervised.
There is no mandatory reporting requirement under the Prevent duty, but schools must know local referral pathways and how to take timely action to safeguard vulnerable pupils. The duty is integrated within broader safeguarding and child protection frameworks in schools.
