Prevent Policy
Official School Policy Document
PREVENT DUTY, RADICALISATION AND EXTREMISM POLICY
Policy Owner | Executive Headteacher / Headteacher / Designated Safeguarding Lead
Strategic Lead | Executive Headteacher
Operational Lead | Headteacher
Prevent Lead | Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Approved by | Directors of SV Academy
Policy Date | September 2026
Next Review | September 2027, or earlier if guidance, local risk or provision changes
Important: This policy does not use a fixed national terrorism threat level because the official level can change. SV Academy will use current official and local Prevent information when reviewing risk.
1. Statement of Intent
SV Academy is committed to safeguarding students from all forms of harm, including the risk of being radicalised into terrorism. Prevent is part of the Academy's wider safeguarding responsibility and is applied proportionately, fairly and without discrimination.
SV Academy will provide a safe environment in which students can discuss sensitive, controversial, political, religious and social issues appropriately. Holding strong opinions, practising a religion, criticising government policy, participating in lawful political activity or expressing identity is not, by itself, evidence of radicalisation.
The Academy will act where there is a safeguarding concern that a student, member of staff or other person may be susceptible to radicalisation into terrorism, may be supporting terrorism, or may pose an immediate risk to themselves or others.
2. Scope
This policy applies across SV Academy, including compulsory school-age / commissioned provision and Post-16 provision. It applies to students, staff, volunteers, contractors, visitors, external speakers and partner organisations where relevant.
For students under 18, concerns are managed within the Academy's child safeguarding arrangements and Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026. For students aged 18 or over, the Prevent duty and appropriate adult safeguarding arrangements continue to apply.
3. Legal and Statutory Framework
The proprietor of an independent school is a specified authority under Schedule 6 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015. Section 26 of that Act places a duty on specified authorities, when exercising their functions, to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.
This policy has been prepared with regard to the Prevent duty guidance: England and Wales (2023), which came into force on 31 December 2023; Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026; Department for Education guidance on safeguarding learners susceptible to radicalisation; the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014; the Equality Act 2010; the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR; and relevant safeguarding and information-sharing guidance.
Prevent is not a separate safeguarding system. It should be embedded within the Academy's wider safeguarding culture, risk assessment, curriculum, online safety and partnership working.
4. Key Terms
Radicalisation is the process of a person legitimising support for, or use of, terrorist violence.
Terrorism is addressed in law and government guidance. For the purpose of this policy, staff do not need to make a legal determination that terrorism has occurred before sharing a safeguarding concern. Their role is to notice, check and share concerns through the Academy's safeguarding procedures.
Extremist narratives may be relevant to Prevent where they are linked to terrorism or are used to encourage people into participating in or supporting terrorism. The Academy will not treat lawful conservative, religious, political or social views as evidence of extremism or radicalisation simply because those views are strongly held.
Fundamental British values are democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
5. Principles
- Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
- There is no single profile of a person who may become radicalised and no single pathway to terrorism.
- Assessment will be based on behaviour, context, vulnerability, protective factors and credible information - not assumptions about race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, immigration status, disability, gender or other protected characteristics.
- Concerns will be responded to proportionately and with professional curiosity.
- Students will be given safe opportunities to discuss and challenge ideas rather than having difficult topics automatically shut down.
- Information will be shared lawfully and only where necessary and proportionate for safeguarding, Prevent or public safety purposes.
- Immediate danger or suspected terrorist criminal activity will be referred to the police without delay.
6. Leadership and Responsibilities
The Directors / proprietor have overall responsibility for ensuring that SV Academy complies with the Prevent duty and that appropriate resources, oversight and assurance are in place.
The Executive Headteacher provides strategic oversight of Prevent across the Academy. This includes oversight of the Academy-wide Prevent risk assessment and action plan, partnership working, quality assurance, staff capability and significant escalated concerns.
The Headteacher is responsible for day-to-day implementation of this policy, ensuring that staff understand procedures, curriculum and pastoral systems support the duty, and concerns are escalated promptly to the DSL / Prevent Lead.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead is the Academy's operational Prevent Lead unless another senior leader is formally designated. The DSL / Prevent Lead maintains Prevent knowledge, advises staff, assesses concerns, liaises with local Prevent partners and police, makes or coordinates referrals, and contributes to Channel where appropriate.
All staff must complete appropriate Prevent awareness training, remain alert to changes in behaviour or circumstances, know how to report a concern, and never attempt to investigate terrorism-related concerns independently.
7. Prevent Risk Assessment and Action Plan
SV Academy will maintain a documented Prevent risk assessment that considers how students or staff may be at risk of being radicalised into terrorism, including online. The assessment will be proportionate to the Academy's location, student profile, phases of education, commissioned provision, Post-16 provision, use of external providers, online environment and relevant local or national threat information.
Where specific risks are identified, the Academy will maintain an action plan setting out controls, responsible persons, timescales and review arrangements.
The risk assessment will be reviewed at least annually and sooner following a relevant incident, significant change in local or national risk, a material change in the student cohort or provision, an inspection finding, or evidence that existing controls may no longer be effective.
The UK terrorism threat level can change and will not be hard-coded into this policy. Leaders will use current official threat information and local Prevent partnership information when considering risk.
8. Recognising Possible Concerns
There is no checklist that proves radicalisation. Indicators must be considered in context. A concern may arise from a combination of changes in behaviour, relationships, online activity, language, expressed intentions or association with people or material linked to terrorism.
Examples that may warrant further professional curiosity include:
- a marked or unexplained change in behaviour, relationships or social isolation;
- persistent engagement with conspiracy theories or grievance narratives that are increasingly linked to hatred or terrorism;
- persistent dehumanising language, rigid "us and them" thinking, or intolerance directed at groups or individuals;
- accessing, possessing, producing or sharing terrorist or extremist material linked to terrorism;
- legitimising or glorifying terrorist violence, or expressing an intention to use violence for an ideological cause;
- contact with individuals or groups known to support terrorism, whether online or in person;
- an expressed intention to travel for a terrorism-related purpose;
- a fixation with weapons, explosives, mass violence or targeted violence where there is no reasonable explanation; or
- actions suggesting recruitment, fundraising, facilitation or practical support for a proscribed terrorist organisation.
9. Responding to a Concern - Notice, Check, Share
Staff who notice a concern should follow the Academy's safeguarding process: Notice, Check, Share. Staff should record what they have seen or heard accurately, using the student's own words where possible, and report the concern promptly to the DSL / Prevent Lead.
Where appropriate, the DSL / Prevent Lead may gather relevant safeguarding information, speak with the student, and speak with parents or carers for a student under 18. This should be done in a way that does not prejudice a police investigation or increase risk.
Staff must not promise confidentiality, conduct their own covert investigation, search private devices without lawful authority, challenge a suspected radicaliser directly, or contact external organisations independently unless authorised by the DSL / Prevent Lead.
The DSL / Prevent Lead will record concerns, discussions, decisions and reasons. If uncertain about the appropriate response, advice may be sought from the local authority Prevent team, children's social care or police without identifying the student initially where appropriate.
10. Levels of Response
The Academy will use professional judgement and the Department for Education risk framework to determine a proportionate response. A student may move quickly between levels of concern and escalation must not be delayed where risk increases.
LevelWhat this may meanSV Academy responseLow / no current Prevent risk | No evidence of susceptibility to radicalisation. Strong opinions, lawful political activity, religion or identity alone are not Prevent concerns. | Continue normal pastoral support, safe discussion and online safety education where appropriate.
At risk / emerging concern | Behaviour or circumstances may increase susceptibility and require further exploration. | DSL / Prevent Lead gathers context, assesses vulnerability and protective factors, speaks with the student and parents/carers where appropriate, and seeks Prevent advice if needed.
Medium / heightened risk | Several indicators suggest an increased risk of radicalisation or harm. | Act promptly through safeguarding procedures and consider an immediate Prevent referral and other safeguarding referrals.
High / immediate or criminal risk | Evidence of current terrorist activity, plans, violent threats, recruitment, terrorist material or immediate danger. | Contact police immediately. Call 999 where there is an immediate threat to life or safety. Follow safeguarding and Prevent procedures in parallel.
11. Prevent Referrals and Channel
Where the DSL / Prevent Lead considers that a person may be susceptible to radicalisation into terrorism, SV Academy will use the current national Prevent referral process and liaise with the local authority Prevent team or police as appropriate.
A Prevent referral is not a criminal accusation. Referrals are assessed by specialist police and partners to determine what response, if any, is appropriate.
Where a referral is considered suitable for Channel, a local authority-led multi-agency panel may assess risk and agree a tailored support package. Channel is voluntary and support requires consent from the person, or their parent / legal guardian where applicable for a person under 18.
Where Channel is not suitable, other safeguarding, early help, mental health, social care or police-led support may be considered as appropriate. SV Academy will cooperate with Channel panels as reasonably practicable where a referral is adopted.
12. Immediate Risk and Police Contact
If a member of staff believes that a student or other person is about to put themselves or others in immediate danger, is planning an attack, has an immediate terrorism-related travel intention, or appears to be involved in a serious criminal offence, the police must be contacted immediately. Where there is an immediate threat to life or safety, call 999.
An emergency police response does not replace safeguarding action. The DSL / Prevent Lead and senior leadership must be informed as soon as it is safe to do so, and the Academy will work with police, the local authority and other agencies.
13. Curriculum, British Values and Political Impartiality
SV Academy will build students' resilience to radicalisation through a broad curriculum, PSHE / RSHE, citizenship, online safety, careers and wider personal development. Students will be taught how to evaluate information, recognise manipulation, challenge prejudice, understand democratic participation and keep themselves safe online.
The Academy will actively promote fundamental British values: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
Sensitive and controversial issues may be discussed. Staff will create safe spaces for reasoned debate and will not suppress lawful viewpoints simply because they are controversial. Where political issues are taught or discussed, the Academy will ensure that partisan political views are not promoted and that opposing views are presented in a balanced manner as required.
14. Equality, Inclusion and Avoiding Stigma
Prevent must be implemented consistently across ideologies and without stereotyping communities. The Academy recognises that inappropriate assumptions can damage trust and can themselves create safeguarding risks.
Staff must not infer a Prevent concern solely from a student's religion, ethnicity, nationality, immigration or asylum status, language, clothing, protected characteristic, family background, disability, SEND, mental health needs or political views.
Where communication, SEND, trauma, mental health, neurodiversity or language needs may affect how a student presents, these factors will be considered as part of a holistic safeguarding assessment and reasonable adjustments will be made where appropriate.
15. Online Safety, Filtering and Monitoring
Radicalising content may be encountered online through social media, gaming, messaging services, video platforms, forums and other digital spaces. The Academy will address this through its wider online safety, filtering and monitoring arrangements.
Students will be taught to recognise manipulation, misinformation, disinformation, conspiracy narratives, harmful online communities and attempts to normalise or glorify violence. Staff will report concerning online activity through safeguarding procedures.
Filtering and monitoring are safeguarding controls but are not substitutes for education, professional curiosity or pastoral relationships. Any monitoring must be lawful, proportionate and consistent with data protection requirements.
16. External Speakers, Visitors, Premises and Resources
SV Academy will take proportionate steps to prevent its premises, events, IT systems and resources from being used to promote terrorist activity or extremist narratives linked to terrorism.
External speakers and organisations may be subject to proportionate due diligence based on the nature of the event and identified risk. Relevant checks may include the speaker's organisation, publicly available material, proposed topic, safeguarding concerns and whether appropriate balance or challenge is required.
Approval may be refused, conditions imposed, or an event cancelled where risks cannot be managed safely or lawfully. Decisions will be recorded and will take account of safeguarding, equality, political impartiality and freedom of expression considerations as relevant.
17. Staff, Volunteers, Contractors and Partner Providers
Prevent responsibilities form part of safer working and safeguarding expectations for staff and volunteers. Concerns about the behaviour of a member of staff will be reported through the appropriate safeguarding allegations, low-level concerns, whistleblowing or employment route, while Prevent or police referral will be considered where relevant.
Where SV Academy commissions or subcontracts education, work experience or services, it will take proportionate steps to ensure that relevant providers understand safeguarding and Prevent expectations. Arrangements will be reflected in contracts, service-level agreements, placement information or quality assurance where appropriate.
18. Information Sharing and Record Keeping
SV Academy will maintain accurate, secure records of Prevent concerns, assessments, advice, referrals and outcomes. Records will distinguish fact, observation, student voice, professional opinion and information received from third parties.
Information may be shared without consent where there is a lawful basis and where sharing is necessary and proportionate to safeguard a person or protect others. Data protection law does not prevent appropriate safeguarding information sharing.
When a child transfers to another school or college, relevant Prevent / Channel information will be transferred securely as part of the appropriate child protection file where required so that support can be in place before or when the child joins the new setting.
19. Training and Staff Development
Relevant staff will receive Prevent training at the earliest appropriate opportunity, including during induction where their role requires it. Training will cover the meaning of radicalisation, the role of ideology, possible indicators, online risk, internal reporting arrangements and the Prevent referral process.
The Academy will determine the frequency and depth of training proportionately according to role and risk. The DSL / Prevent Lead will receive more in-depth training, including ideology, referrals and Channel, and this will normally be refreshed at least every two years in line with Prevent duty guidance.
Training records will be maintained and staff updates will respond to changes in guidance, local risks, referral trends, emerging online harms and lessons from safeguarding practice.
20. Students, Parents and Carers
SV Academy will communicate its safeguarding and Prevent responsibilities in an accessible way. Students will know how to raise concerns about themselves or another person and will be encouraged to seek help early.
Parents and carers will normally be involved where a student under 18 is the subject of a Prevent concern, unless doing so would increase risk, prejudice an investigation, place another person at risk, or be contrary to safeguarding advice from police or children's social care.
Post-16 students aged 18 or over will generally be engaged directly as adults, while appropriate family or supporter involvement will be considered with consent unless there is a lawful safeguarding reason to act otherwise.
21. Monitoring, Assurance and Review
The Headteacher will monitor day-to-day implementation of Prevent arrangements. The DSL / Prevent Lead will maintain operational records and provide appropriate safeguarding assurance to senior leadership. The Executive Headteacher will review strategic risk, training, themes, partnership working and the Prevent action plan.
Directors will maintain oversight of compliance with the Prevent duty and the effectiveness of the Academy's safeguarding arrangements.
This policy will be reviewed annually and sooner if statutory guidance changes, the Academy's provision changes, significant local or national risks emerge, or a safeguarding incident indicates that procedures should be strengthened.
22. Related Policies
- Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy
- Online Safety / Filtering and Monitoring arrangements
- Behaviour, Rewards and Sanctions Policy
- Equality and Diversity / Equal Opportunities Policy
- Curriculum Policy
- Staff Code of Conduct
- Whistleblowing Policy
- Low-Level Concerns and Allegations procedures
- Risk Assessment Policy
- Enrolment Policy
23. References and Guidance
- Home Office - Prevent duty guidance: England and Wales (2023)
- Department for Education - Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026
- Department for Education - The Prevent duty: safeguarding learners vulnerable to radicalisation
- Department for Education - Managing risk of radicalisation in your education setting
- Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015
- GOV.UK - Prevent duty training
- Educate Against Hate
Policy reviewed and revised: September 2026