Safeguarding for Schools and Teachers
Reclaiming Radical Ideas in Schools
| Examples of hate crime and terrorist attacks are rising in the UK and Europe. In 2015-2016, there were 7,631 referrals to the Prevention programme, which aims to stop people being drawn into terrorism. A quarter of these referrals were under-15’s. Never before has there been a greater need for schools to present a clear narrative to promote community cohesion. Schools and teachers need resources to help protect and safeguard young people from radical ideas.
Andrew Moffat MBE, offers advice for parents and schools on how to talk to children about terrorism. Reclaiming Radical Ideas in Schools uniquely offers strategies for schools to work with parents and children together in school-based workshops, to reduce the risk of radicalisation. Andrew, Assistant Head Teacher at Parkfield Community School, offers strategies and lesson plans that have been tried and tested in his inner-city school in Birmingham. Moffat says, “When we piloted these workshops in my own school, we got an overwhelmingly positive response from our parent community. Children loved working on the activities with their parents and the parents engaged with us in discussions about community cohesion and the importance of everyone knowing they belong. The workshops were a fantastic way to develop the schools’ No Outsiders thread and take the messages in to the community.” Building resilience of young people and the promotion of fundamental British values is at the heart of preventing radicalization. By promoting and celebrating ideas of equality and community cohesion as opposed to those of division and separation, ‘radical ideas can be reclaimed’. Meeting the SMSC (Social, Moral, Spiritual, Cultural) needs faced by schools in the 21st Century, Reclaiming Radical Ideas in Schools is an essential book for schools, parents and those concerned with the radicalization of young people. Reclaiming Radical Ideas in Schools is available via https://www.routledge.com/9781138564312 For press enquiries, please contact: About the Author: Andrew Moffat has been a full-time teacher since 1996 and is currently Assistant Head Teacher at Parkfield Community School, a large primary school in inner city Birmingham. Andrew is the author of “No Outsiders in our school: teaching the equality act in primary schools” (Speechmark 2015) which gives guidance on how to build an ethos of equality and diversity in schools. In May 2016 Ofsted awarded Parkfield Community School ‘Outstanding’ status and recognized ‘No Outsiders’ as a key strength. In June 2017 Andrew was awarded an MBE for services to equality and diversity in education, and in September 2017 the Ofsted chief Inspector Amanda Spielman referenced No Outsiders in a speech to BEP as an example of good practice; helping, “pupils confront prejudice and stereotypes,” and teaching, ”pupils to make a positive contribution to their communities.” Andrew regularly speaks at conferences and leads training on using the No Outsiders ethos to promote community cohesion and reduce potential for radicalization. Andrew has a M’Ed in emotional and behavioral difficulties and is currently studying for a PhD on the role of schools in reducing radicalization. He is the founder of www.equalitiesprimary.com and is active on twitter @moffat_andrew. |
