Prevent and controversial issues

Full guidance

This guidance is designed to support schools and teachers as they consider and develop their response to the Prevent duty.
It aims to help teachers working in primary and secondary education to:

• consider how to best meet the requirements of the Prevent duty and be clear about the purpose and role of the Citizenship curriculum and the teacher in this context.
• develop understanding of the Citizenship pedagogical tools available to help them address Prevent as a controversial issue.
• feel more confident in planning teaching and learning that is appropriate within the context of their school and their pupils’ diverse needs and backgrounds.
• be informed about what to do if they find a pupil who is at risk of being draw into terrorism or extremist behaviour.

Headteacher and senior leader summary

This guidance supports schools and teachers as they consider and develop their response to the Prevent duty. It aims to help teachers working in primary and secondary education to:

• Consider how to best meet the requirements of the Prevent duty and be clear about the purpose and role of the Citizenship curriculum and the teacher in this context.
• Develop understanding of the Citizenship pedagogical tools that help address Prevent as a controversial issue.
• Feel more confident in planning teaching and learning that is appropriate within the context of their school and their pupils’ diverse needs and backgrounds.
• Be informed about what to do if they find a pupil who is at risk of being draw into terrorism or extremist behaviour.

Teacher summary

This guidance is designed to support schools and teachers as they consider and develop their response to the Prevent duty.
It aims to help teachers working in primary and secondary education to:

• consider how to best meet the requirements of the Prevent duty and be clear about the purpose and role of the Citizenship curriculum and the teacher in this context;
• develop understanding of the Citizenship pedagogical tools available to help them address Prevent as a controversial issue;
• feel more confident in planning teaching and learning that is appropriate within the context of their school and their pupils’ diverse needs and backgrounds;
• be informed about what to do if they find a pupil is at risk of being draw into terrorism or extremist behaviour.

Developing an Educational Approach to Preventing and Teaching Controversial Issues: Presentation

With input from Lee Jerome, Associate professor of Education at Middlesex University, and led by ACT Teacher Ambassadors, regional teaching hubs are an ideal way to meet with other teachers and develop your curriculum provision for Citizenship. This meeting centred around using the Deliberative Classroom approach and practical ideas for teaching Prevent, controversial issues, and Fundamental British values.

Included here is a recording of the session from our Regional Hub meetings on 1 April 2020. Move to 6 minutes from the start to enjoy the session: