Government Announces Measures Aimed At Tackling Extremism In Schools
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has announced a series of new measures aimed at tackling extremism in schools, including the launch of a new information website aimed at parents, teachers and school leaders. Speaking at Bethnal Green Academy – a school that hit headlines last year after three of its female pupils were widely reported to […]
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has announced a series of new measures aimed at tackling extremism in schools, including the launch of a new information website aimed at parents, teachers and school leaders.
Speaking at Bethnal Green Academy – a school that hit headlines last year after three of its female pupils were widely reported to have fled the UK for Syria – the education secretary also unveiled plans to escalate Ofsted inspections into unregistered independent schools, swifter prosecutions in cases where schools are found to be operating illegally, and a new consultation on how information can be better shared between schools and local authorities to ensure that children taken out of school do not go missing.
The Educate Against Hate website will seek to offer practical advice for parents, teachers and school leaders on safeguarding children from organisations and individuals with extremist views, as well as signpost users to guidance and resources produced by the government and charities including the NSPCC and Childnet.
During her speech, Nicky Morgan said, “We must continue to root out those who peddle extremism in our schools, but at the same time we must equip young people with the mental agility, arguments and insight to see through and overcome the propaganda of extremist groups, be it the Islamist extremism of Daesh or the fundamentalism of the far right.
“As a government we are determined, and I am determined, to provide schools with the support they need to do this.”
The Association of School and College Leaders was among those welcoming the Education Secretary’s announcements, with Deputy General Secretary Malcolm Trobe commenting, “We are pleased to see the launch of this new website which provides schools and parents with easily accessible information to help them protect young people from the danger of extremism. This will complement and support the work that is already going on in schools to tackle the threat posed by all forms of extremism.”
NASUWT General Secretary Chris Keates meanwhile sounded a more cautionary note. “There is tremendous demand for relevant, balanced and trustworthy advice and resources to assist the work of schools in keeping children safe from all forms of extremism and harm,” he said, in a public statement issued by the union.
He went on to add, “The NASUWT will be making clear to the government the importance of having in place clear and enforceable measures to safeguard children and young people, and recognising that additional resources will be needed to improve collaboration and information-sharing between schools and other agencies working with children and families.”
