Asked by: Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh (Scottish National Party - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps the Government has taken to tackle extremism in schools.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Government continues to work with the education sector, community organisations and operational partners to safeguard our young people from extremism and radicalisation.
The Department for Education has issued practical guidance for schools and childcare providers to help them understand how to implement the Prevent duty, which requires them to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. In September 2016, the Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance was updated to cover online safety, including the requirement for schools and colleges to ensure appropriate monitoring systems are in place.
We are also ensuring that schools are equipped to build children’s resilience against extremist ideology and prepare them for life in a modern, diverse Britain. Since 2011, more than 550,000 people, including teachers, have been trained to recognise the signs of radicalisation and to know what steps to take. New advice and resources continue to be uploaded to our Educate Against Hate website, which aims to help parents, teachers and school leaders protect young people from extremism and radicalisation.
The Department has established the counter-extremism helpline; anyone who has concerns relating to extremism affecting young people or the education sector can contact the helpline.
We have also worked with Ofsted to strengthen their inspection frameworks so that inspectors are required to assess how well schools protect pupils from the risks of extremism and radicalisation, and promote fundamental British values (democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs).
Asked by: Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh (Scottish National Party - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she last met representatives of the Russell Group of universities; and what subjects were discussed at that meeting.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
Ministers regularly meet with stakeholders, including representatives of the Russell Group, to discuss issues of interest to the sector.