| Date Created | Date 1st Review Due | Date Reviewed | Version | Next Review Due |
| March 2023 | March 2024 | 1 | ||
| March 2024 | 2 | March 2025 |
Policy Statement
Egham Park School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Egham Park School is subject to a duty under section 29 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, in the exercise of their functions, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism” This is known as The Prevent Duty.
The prevent strategy can be found here:
The prevent strategy can be found here:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-strategy-2011
Prevent strategy 2011 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
This Anti-radicalisation policy sets out our beliefs, strategies and procedures to protect vulnerable individuals from being radicalised or exposed to extremism. We have referred closely to the Government’s PREVENT strategy and Channel guidance in developing this policy.
Aims
● To ensure that staff are fully engaged in being vigilant about radicalisation and violent extremism
● To overcome the belief that radicalisation and extremism will not happen at Egham Park School
● To ensure staff are able to identify pupils who may be vulnerable to radicalisation and know what to do when they are identified.
● To ensure that our establishments are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our young people. We recognise that safeguarding against radicalisation is no different from safeguarding against any other vulnerability.
● To ensure that we work alongside other professional bodies and agencies to keep our young people safe from harm.
● That all staff uphold and promote the fundamental principles of British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
Objectives
● All staff will have an understanding of what radicalisation and extremism are and why we need to be vigilant in our organisation.
● All staff will know what the policy is on anti-radicalisation and extremism and will follow the policy when issues arise.
● All parents/carers and young people will know that the organisation has policies in place to keep pupils safe from harm and that the school regularly reviews its systems to ensure they are appropriate and effective.
Definitions
Radicalisation is defined as the act or process of making a person more radical or favouring of extreme or fundamental changes in political, economic or social conditions, institutions or habits of the mind. Extremism is defined as the holding of extreme political or religious views. Terrorism is an action that endangers or causes serious violence to a person/people; causes serious damage to property; or seriously interferes or disrupts an electronic system. The use or threat must be designed to influence the government or to intimidate the public and is made for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause.
Introduction
The Government assesses that the UK is a high priority target for international terrorists aligned with Syria, Al Qa’ida, ISIS, and other extremist groups, and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. In practice this means a threat from British nationals and UK-based terrorists as well as from foreign terrorists planning attacks from abroad. In addition to the severe threat posed by Al Qa’ida or ISIS – influenced groups, dissident Irish republican terrorist groups who oppose the Northern Ireland peace process still pose a threat to British interests. Other UK-based extremist groups including racist and fascist organisations and far-right extremist groups also pose a threat to public order and the British multicultural way of life.
These groups often aspire to campaigns of violence against individuals, families and particular communities and, if unchecked, may provide a catalyst for alienation and disaffection within particular ethnic communities.
● Evidence suggests that the route to violent far-right extremism often begins with organisations seeking to recruit young people and even arranging specific training activities that include encouraging the use of guns and knives.
● The Security Service’s appraisal of terrorist threats currently facing the UK can be found at:
https://www.mi5.gov.uk/threat-levels
● A list of the groups or movements that encourage the use of violence and meet the conditions for being banned – proscribed – under counter-terrorism legislation is at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/proscribed-terror-groups-or-organisations–2
What the Government is doing to prevent violent extremism
● The Government has a ‘Prevent’ strategy as part of its overall approach to countering terrorism with the aim of preventing people becoming terrorists or supporting violent extremism.
● The 2011 Prevent strategy has three objectives designed to address the factors that research suggests can cause people to become involved in violent extremism.
These are:
1. To respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat from those who promote it;
2. To prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate advice and support;
3. To work with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation that we need to address
The path to violent extremism
● Evidence suggests that the ‘radicalisation’ process is not linear or predictable and the length of time taken can differ greatly from a few weeks to a few years. It does not always result in violence.
● The secondary school age period is often when the process of radicalisation starts which eventually tips them into choosing to undertake violent or criminal acts.
● Young people will generally become involved in violent extremist movements under the influence of others. Initial contact could be via peers, older siblings, other family members or acquaintances. The process can often be a social one, where interaction is more likely to be outside school settings, often in unsupervised environments i.e. gyms, café’s, or in private homes.
● Evidence suggests that the internet is now playing a much more important role. Both violent extremist videos and propaganda can be accessed via websites or contact via social networking sites.
● Violent extremists of all persuasions usually attract people to their cause through a persuasive narrative. Extremist narratives have the potential to influence views to varying degrees: inspiring new recruits, helping to embed beliefs of those with established extreme views, or persuading others of the legitimacy of their cause.
Factors that make a young person susceptible to adopting extremist views and supporting violence
● Available evidence suggests there is no single profile of a person likely to become involved in extremism, or single indicator of when a person might move to adopt violence in support of extremist ideas. However, it does appear the decision by a young person to become involved in violent extremism:
- May begin with a search for answers to questions about identity, faith and belonging
- May be driven by the desire for ‘adventure’ and excitement
- May be driven by a desire to enhance the self-esteem of the individual and promote their ‘street cred’
- Is likely to involve identification with a charismatic individual and attraction to a group which can offer identity, social network and support
● Adolescents exploring issues of identity can feel both distant from their parents’ cultural and religious heritage and uncomfortable with their place in society around them. Extremist ideas can help provide a sense of purpose or feeling of belonging.
● The young person may have experienced a personal crisis where significant tensions within a family produce a sense of isolation for the young person, from the certainties of family life.
● Migration, local tensions or events affecting families in countries of origin may contribute to alienation from UK values and a decision to cause harm to symbols of the community or state.
● Young people may perceive their aspirations for career and lifestyle undermined by limited school achievement or employment prospects. This can translate to a generalised rejection of civic life and adoption of violence as a symbolic act.
● A young person may have been involved in group offending or, on occasion, have been linked to organised crime and be drawn to engagement in extremist, potentially criminal, activities
● Other factors include – ideology and politics/ provocation and anger /a need for protection/ fascination with violence, weapons and uniforms/ youth rebellion, seeking family and father substitutes/ seeking friends and community and seeking status and identity.
The role education can play
● Education can play a powerful role in encouraging young people to challenge ideas, think for themselves and take responsibility for their actions.
● Egham Park School provide a safe place in which pupils, young people and staff can understand the risks associated with terrorism and develop the knowledge and skills to be able to challenge extremist arguments.
● Staff need to ensure they know their pupils, listening and responding to their changing needs. If members of staff have concerns about behaviour patterns, they should seek advice from other partners and use their professional judgement to consider whether a young person might be at risk.
● Our curriculum promotes respect, tolerance and diversity. Pupils are encouraged to share their views and recognise that they are entitled to have their own different beliefs which should not be used to influence others.
● Our PSHEE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education), Citizenship and SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) provision is embedded across the curriculum and underpins the ethos of the school.
● Egham Park School builds pupil’s resilience to radicalisation by providing a safe environment for debating controversial issues and helping them to understand how they can influence and participate in decision-making.
● Our curriculum actively promotes the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
● It is recognised that children with low aspirations are more vulnerable to radicalisation and therefore we strive to equip our pupils with confidence, self-belief, respect and tolerance as well as setting high standards and expectations for themselves.
● Our young people are taught about how to stay safe when using the Internet, are encouraged to recognise that people are not always who they say they are online and are encouraged to seek adult help if they are upset or concerned about anything they read or see on the Internet.
● Should the need arise there are areas in each setting that can be set aside as prayer rooms and faith facilities should they be required.
Through INSET opportunities in school and Prevent Duty Training we will ensure that our staff are fully aware of the threats, risks and vulnerabilities that are linked to radicalisation; are aware of the process of radicalisation and how this might be identified early on.
Signs or behaviours to look out for
● There are a number of signs or behaviours that may cause staff concern which would require them to use their professional judgement to determine whether a response is needed. Staff will need to take into consideration how reliable or significant signs are and whether there are other factors or issues that could indicate vulnerability.
- What staff might see or hear:
- Graffiti symbols, writing or artwork promoting extremist messages or images
- Pupils accessing extremist material online, including through social networking sites
- Parent/carer reports of changes in behaviour, friendship or actions and requests for assistance, hostility towards former associates and family.
- Partner schools, local authority services, and police reports of issues affecting pupils in other schools
- Pupils voicing opinions drawn from extremist ideologies and narratives
- Use of extremist or ‘hate’ terms to exclude others or incite violence
- Possession of extremist literature: possession of material regarding weapons, explosives or military training.
● Staff should also be vigilant around the behaviour and viewpoints of other adults in the organisation. For example, staff, agency staff and visitors may express views, bring material into the school, use or direct pupils to extremist websites, or act in other ways to promote violent extremist views. Their actions might constitute a breach of the relevant professional standards or may be illegal. In such an event, staff would be asked to leave the premises and the police and local authority may be contacted.
Egham Park School will:
● Strictly apply its safer recruitment procedures which include Enhanced DBS checks and references which are in light with ‘Keeping children safe in Education, 2023’
● Ensure that teachers do not use teaching materials which may encourage intolerance
● Ensure pupils are not actively encouraged by teachers or visitors to the school to support extremist views of any form.
● Regularly monitor staff conduct and where necessary, i.e. in extreme cases where it is felt that the staff is a cause for concern, the school will contact the relevant authorities (central Prevent Team, local Police enforcement, etc) for advice on the matter
● Ensure safe search and strict restrictions on Social Media such as YouTube, Snapchat etc are enabled on school IT equipment and pupil log-in.
Staff will:
● Read and familiarise themselves with the Prevent Strategy, June 2015 and further updates.
● Wherever possible, challenge racist or extremist views or behaviour. This could be in the form of removing hate-related graffiti, challenging views expressed through discussions, or supporting pupils in a key work session or through the restorative justice process.
● Record any minor incident on an incident report form and give to the DSL and Principal to be filed in the incident report file and logged in the daily progress report. (Recording the incident creates a chronology of what happened and when it happened. It also shows a history of events and allows analysis of any patterns over time which is crucial in determining if the young person is seriously at risk. This also provides evidence of events when working other agencies).
● Report any major concerns. If staff feel that there are signs that the pupils’s behaviour or views could be an indicator of their vulnerability to radicalisation or extremism, then the procedure follows that of the Safeguarding Policy as outlined below.
● Make an immediate verbal report to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) if out of hours by telephone if necessary.
● As soon as possible, make a full written report for the attention of the Designated Safeguarding Lead and or DDSL/principal. (Remember that your report will form the basis for any further investigation and needs to be able to be read and understood by professionals from other agencies).
● Ensure that the words of the person are used in the report and not the interpretation or understanding of those words by a member of staff.
Reporting – Designated Safeguarding Lead and/or principal will:
● Take any further steps needed to ensure the immediate safety of pupils, which may include the relocation of pupils, relocation of staff, calling in additional staff, suspending staff. (If it is judged to be necessary to suspend a member of staff, the staff member being suspended must be told in person where possible, by the Business manager or principal, reminded of the conditions of suspension and immediately escorted from the premises).
If issues relate to staff: During office hours call the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
● The Surrey LADO can be contacted on 0300 123 1650 or lado@surreycc.gov.uk
● If issues relate to a young person: Refer to Designated Safeguarding Lead or SPA on 0300 470 9100 or cspa@surreycc.gov.uk During evenings, weekends and bank holidays, the EmergencyDutyTeam is available: Phone: 014835 17898 Email: edt.ssd@surreycc.gov.uk
● If issues relate to a visitor: Refer to Designated Safeguarding Lead to contact LADO
● Inform the Police if immediate intervention is necessary i.e. if a member of staff or visitor refuse to leave the site or evidence for a crime scene needs securing.
● Inform the allocated social worker and/or placing authority of each pupil involved of the reported concern by phone or fax. Place on CPOMS and then it is tracked through CPOMS.
● Care only – Send completed form to Ofsted, the allocated Social Worker, the allocated
administration officer, and the Designated Safeguarding Lead (NB: The
administration officer must ensure the information is stored in the appropriate folder)
● Inform the pupil’s parents or carers, unless there is good reason to delay doing so (e.g. family member is subject of concern). Before contacting parents, check the pupil’s file to ensure this course of action is in line with the pupil’s legal status and placement plan.
What happens after a referral is made
● We would refer to C-SPA and they will take the necessary steps
This document should be read in conjunction with:-
● The Prevent Strategy June 2015
● Revised PREVENT duty guidance: England and Wales, September 2023
● Keeping Children Safe in Education September 2023
● Working together to safeguard children 2024
● The eSafety Policy to ensure that children are safe from terrorism and extremist material when accessing the internet at school.
● The Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and Procedure
● The Anti-bullying Policy
● The Behaviour Policy
● Curriculum Policy
And further recommended reading includes:
- Learning together to be safe: A toolkit to help schools contribute to the prevention of violent extremism, Department for Children, Schools and Families
- Guidance on Managing Persons believed to be Vulnerable to Radicalisation (VTR) or Influenced by Extremism
- Channel Duty guidance: protecting people vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism