Prevent forms one part of the government’s counter-terrorism strategy called CONTEST.
Prevent aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism by working with some government departments, local authorities and community organisations.
The three areas of focus are to:
The Prevent strategy covers all forms of terrorism, violent extremism and some aspects of non-violent extremism. From July 2015, the Counter-terrorism and Security Act means it's a statutory duty for organisations such as schools, councils and hospitals to support and help people at risk of radicalisation.
Radicalisation is a process by which a person comes to support terrorism and forms of extremism leading to terrorism.
Extremism is the vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.
A person identified as at risk of radicalisation may be invited to take part in a support programme called Channel. This programme is voluntary, tailored to the individual and similar to other multi-agency safeguarding processes. Taking part doesn’t lead to a criminal record.
Training is available for those who deal with people who may be at risk of radicalisation. It is open to council staff, housing staff and other partners, including community groups. Some frontline officers will be especially suited to an interactive training package called Workshop to Raise Awareness of Prevent (WRAP).
For more information on Prevent or training available, email the team.
Protecting children from the risk of radicalisation should be part of a school’s wider safeguarding duties. It is similar in nature to protecting children from other harms such as drugs, gangs, neglect and sexual exploitation. Schools are required to stop young people being drawn into extremism by developing critical thinking skills, encouraging active debate, and by sharing any safeguarding concerns they have with fellow professionals.
We have a dedicated Prevent education officer who:
We have developed the resources below to further embed the Prevent duty within the curriculum. These can be adapted for assemblies, form time and lessons. You should consider whether the content is age appropriate for your students before use.
Four one-hour workshops which explore the four fundamental British values of:
These sessions include a mock election, video clips and questions to encourage conversation.
Suitable for KS3, recommended for use in form time, Citizenship and PSHE classes.
A one-hour lesson which encourages students to think critically about headlines (clickbait) they may find online.
Suitable for KS3, recommended for use in form time, Citizenship, PSHE and English classes.
A one-hour lesson which shows three video case studies of former extremists. The videos aim to create discussion about extremism and who could be affected by it.
Suitable for KS3, recommended for use in form time, Citizenship and PSHE classes.
Two one-hour lessons which use two extracts by Mohsin Hamid (author of Exit West) to explore the Syrian Civil War and the refugees fleeing from it. One of the extracts contains graphic imagery and should be used with discretion.
Suitable for KS4 and 5, recommended for use in English classes.
Two one-hour lessons which introduce students to politics and explore how different elements of the media responded to the Manchester Arena attack.
Suitable for KS4 and 5, recommended for use in English classes.
Two one-hour lessons which explore conflict, terrorism and extremism through poetry. Students demonstrate their learning through group presentations.
Suitable for KS4 and 5, recommended for use in English classes.
Two one-hour lessons which analyse four fiction and non-fiction speeches, to explore which persuasion techniques are used and discuss whether some forms of extremism are justified.
Suitable for KS4 and 5, recommended for use in English classes.
Two one-hour lessons which encourage students to explore the historical context of a terrorist attack. The lesson introduces The Troubles in Northern Ireland through a series of true stories.
Suitable for KS3, 4 and 5, recommended for use in English and history classes.
You can request resources, give feedback or make suggestions for future resources by emailing the team.