Preventing Extremism & Radicalisation Policy

2022

9. VISITORS AND THE USE OF SCHOOL PREMISES

If any member of staff wishes to invite a visitor in the school, they must first consult the headteacher. Only after agreement from the Headteacher can the visitor enter school. If the visitor is likely to become a regular visitor they will be subject to Safeguarding Checks including DBS checks, if appropriate, and photo identification. Children are NEVER left unsupervised with external visitors, regardless of safeguarding check outcomes. There are, however, situations in which children are left without direct supervision with sports coaches or members of the community who are well-known to the school eg. When reading to community volunteers. These coaches and volunteers must have clean current DBS and safeguarding checks.

Upon arriving at the school, all visitors including contractors, will read the child protection and safeguarding guidance and be made aware of who the DSLs are and how to report any concerns which they may experience.

If any agreement is made to allow non-school groups or organisations to use the premises, appropriate checks will be made before agreeing the contract. Usage will be monitored and in the event of any behaviour not in-keeping with the Tackling Extremism and Radicalisation Policy, the school will contact the police and terminate the contract.

Franksbridge School values freedom of speech and the expression of beliefs and ideology as fundamental rights underpinning our society’s values. Both pupils/students and teachers have the right to speak freely and voice their opinions. However, freedom comes with responsibility and free speech that is designed to manipulate the vulnerable or that leads to violence and harm of others goes against the moral principles in which freedom of speech is valued. Free speech is not an unqualified privilege; it is subject to laws and policies governing equality, human rights, community safety and community cohesion.

The current threat from terrorism in the United Kingdom may include the exploitation of vulnerable people, to involve them in terrorism or in activity in support of terrorism. The normalisation of extreme views may also make children and young people vulnerable to future manipulation and exploitation. Franksbridge School is clear that this exploitation and radicalisation should be viewed as a safeguarding concern.

Definitions of radicalisation and extremism, and indicators of vulnerability to radicalisation are in the Appendix 2.

Franksbridge School seeks to protect children and young people against the messages of all violent extremism including, but not restricted to, those linked to extremist Islamist ideology, or to Far Right/Neo-Nazi/White Supremacist ideology.

10. RISK REDUCTION & RESPONSE

The school governors, the Headteacher and the Designated Safeguarding Lead will assess the level of risk within the school and put actions in place to reduce that risk. Risk assessment may include consideration of the school’s RE curriculum, PSHE policy, assembly policy, use of school premises by external agencies, integration of pupils by gender and SEN, anti-bullying policy and other issues specific to the school’s profile, community and philosophy.

Our school, will identify a Prevent Single Point of Contact (SPOC) who will be the lead within the organisation for safeguarding in relation to protecting individuals from radicalisation and involvement in terrorism: this will normally be the Designated Safeguarding Lead. The SPOC for Franksbridge School is Rhian Wilkie. The responsibilities of the SPOC are described in Appendix 3.

When any member of staff has concerns that a pupil may be at risk of radicalisation or involvement in terrorism, they should speak with the SPOC and to the Designated Safeguarding Lead if this is not the same person.

Numerous factors can contribute to and influence the range of behaviours that are defined as violent extremism, but most young people do not become involved in extremist action. For this reason the