WALTHAM FOREST: Anti-terror guidance for schools

8:48am Tuesday 14th October 2008

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VIOLENT extremism and terrorism are to be combatted under new guidance to be available in both primary and secondary schools.

The “Learning together to be safe” kit, compiled by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) will bolster measures already in place in Waltham Forest schools.

Cabinet member for children and young people Chris Robbins said: "Waltham Forest is nationally recognised as one of the leading authorities for promoting community cohesion and we are very proud of the work our teachers are already doing around these issues.

"We have been working for some time with our schools improvement contractor and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, to develop a programme for our teachers, offering qualifications to enable them to challenge issues such as self-segregation, radicalisation and cult activities in schools.

"Other council initiatives have been praised by Ed Balls and his cabinet colleagues on numerous occasions in the past, such as our Young Muslim Leaders programme."

The kit will feature guidance on confiscation of knives and banning certain items of clothing and will advise schools to have designated teachers to whom pupils can report concerns about “grooming” by extremist groups.

Mr Balls said: “Dealing with violent extremism is nothing new for the UK and we have learnt from past experience that a security response is not enough.

“We need to address the underlying issues that can drive people into the hands of violent extremist groups and encourage local communities to come together to expose the flaws in extremists’ arguments, to reject cruelty and violence and promote our core British values of tolerance, liberty, fairness and respect of the rule of law.”

There will also be advice on what schools should do if extremist groups try to campaign on school grounds and examples of what to watch out for, such as graffiti and material accessed online.