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Preventing Radicalisation in school

Preventing Radicalisation – The Prevent Duty

At Crowmarsh Gifford C of E Primary School, keeping children safe is our highest priority. As part of our safeguarding responsibilities, we have a statutory duty to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. This is known as the Prevent Duty.

Prevent is part of our wider safeguarding approach. Just as we would respond to concerns about a child's safety or wellbeing, we will take appropriate action if we are concerned that a child may be susceptible to radicalisation.

What is radicalisation?

Radicalisation is the process through which a person comes to support or participate in terrorism or forms of extremism that can lead to terrorism.

Children and young people can encounter harmful influences in different ways, including online. A single behaviour or opinion does not necessarily mean that a child is at risk of radicalisation. Concerns are considered carefully and in context.

How do we support children?

Our approach is appropriate to the age of our pupils and forms part of our everyday safeguarding and curriculum provision.

We support children to:

  • feel safe, valued and able to talk to trusted adults;
  • develop critical thinking and question information they encounter;
  • understand how to keep themselves safe online;
  • respect people with different beliefs, backgrounds and opinions;
  • understand democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance;
  • recognise that disagreement and difference are a normal part of life.

This work is supported through areas including PSHE, RE, online safety, relationships education, collective worship and our wider curriculum, alongside our school vision and values.

We also maintain appropriate filtering and monitoring systems for school technology and have procedures for managing visitors and external speakers.

What happens if we have a concern?

All staff have a responsibility to be alert to safeguarding concerns, including concerns about radicalisation.

If a member of staff has a concern, this is shared with one of our Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) and considered through our normal safeguarding procedures.

We use the Notice, Check, Share approach: noticing a concern, checking the wider context and sharing information appropriately. Where necessary, the DSL may seek specialist advice or make a Prevent referral.

Prevent support is intended to safeguard individuals at risk. Where appropriate, support may be provided through Channel, a voluntary, confidential multi-agency safeguarding programme.

If there is an immediate risk of harm, the police will be contacted.

Working with families

Safeguarding works best when schools and families work together. If you are worried about something your child has seen or heard, particularly online, or are concerned about changes in their behaviour or influences around them, please speak to a member of our safeguarding team.

Having an interest in religion, politics or current affairs, expressing strong opinions or questioning government policy does not, by itself, mean that a child is at risk of radicalisation. We consider concerns carefully and proportionately.

Further information

Government Prevent Duty Guidance
Educate Against Hate – advice and resources for parents and schools

Our Prevent Statement

Prevent Duty Statement 2026–27

Crowmarsh Gifford C of E Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children.

Under Section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, schools have a statutory duty to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. This is known as the Prevent Duty.

At Crowmarsh Gifford C of E Primary School, Prevent is an integral part of our wider safeguarding responsibilities.

We fulfil our Prevent Duty by:

  • maintaining and regularly reviewing a school-specific Prevent Risk Assessment and Action Plan;
  • ensuring staff understand the Prevent Duty, are alert to concerns and know how to report them;
  • ensuring concerns about possible radicalisation are shared with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and managed through our established safeguarding procedures;
  • using the Notice, Check, Share approach when considering concerns;
  • seeking appropriate advice and making a Prevent referral where necessary;
  • providing an age-appropriate curriculum which develops children's critical thinking, online safety, understanding of different beliefs and perspectives, and respect for others;
  • promoting fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance;
  • maintaining appropriate filtering and monitoring arrangements to help protect pupils from harmful online content;
  • having appropriate procedures for visitors, external speakers and use of the school premises; and
  • ensuring the Governing Body has appropriate oversight of the school's Prevent responsibilities.

We recognise that there is no single indicator of radicalisation. Children's behaviour, views and circumstances are considered carefully and in context. Holding strong views, taking an interest in religion or politics, or questioning government policy does not in itself indicate that a child is at risk of radicalisation.

Where a concern arises, our priority is safeguarding the child. Information will be shared appropriately and proportionately in accordance with our safeguarding procedures.

This statement should be read alongside the school's Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy, Online Safety arrangements, Prevent Risk Assessment and other relevant safeguarding policies and procedures.

Review: September 2027, or earlier following significant changes to statutory guidance or the school's risk assessment.

 

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