Lesson Overview
| Duration | 75 minutes |
|---|
| Key Stage | College (Post-16) |
|---|
| Subject Links | PSHE, Health & Social Care, Public Services, Criminology |
|---|
| Resources Needed | Pupil handouts, Quiz, Presentation slides |
|---|
Learning Objectives
- Understand the relationship between hate speech, extremism, and terrorism
- Critically evaluate the Prevent duty and counter-extremism policy in UK educational settings
- Understand the role of professionals in identifying and responding to radicalisation
- Analyse the tension between free expression and the Prevent duty
- Develop professional-level skills for challenging extremist narratives
Key Information
- In 2023-24, 6,406 referrals were made to the Channel programme — the government's early intervention counter-extremism scheme
- The majority of Channel referrals involved concern about Islamist extremism, followed by far-right extremism
- Online radicalisation now features in the majority of domestic terrorism cases
- Young men aged 15-29 are most commonly referred to Channel
- Education is the most common sector making Prevent referrals (33% of all referrals)
Legal Framework
- Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 — Prevent duty on specified authorities including all educational institutions
- Terrorism Act 2000 — definition of terrorism; offences including membership, support, and funding
- Terrorism Act 2006 — encouragement of terrorism, dissemination of terrorist publications
- Online Safety Act 2023 — terrorism content as illegal content requiring proactive removal
- Channel is a voluntary early intervention programme — not a criminal process
- The Prevent duty requires institutions to have policies and staff training in place, not to act as intelligence services
Lesson Plan
10 mins Hate Speech to Radicalisation: The Pathway
How unchallenged prejudice creates the conditions for extremism. The role of online communities, grievance narratives, and identity crises.
15 mins Prevent: Policy, Practice, and Controversy
What is the Prevent duty? Who does it apply to? What are its critics saying, and what are the responses? How has it evolved since 2015?
12 mins Professional Identification Skills
What are the behavioural and digital indicators of radicalisation? How confident are professionals at identifying them? Role-play: referral conversation.
10 mins Counter-Narratives
What makes an effective counter-narrative? Case studies from UK and international practice. What can individuals and institutions do to challenge extremist ideas?
6 mins The Civil Liberties Debate
Is the Prevent duty compatible with human rights? What are the arguments on both sides? How do you hold this tension professionally?
7 mins Case Studies and Referral Practice
Three scenarios: apply Prevent criteria and discuss the referral decision.
⚠️ Safeguarding Considerations
- Participants in education settings have a statutory Prevent duty — this session is also professional development
- Discussions of extremism may be directly relevant to some participants' communities or experiences
- If a participant expresses views consistent with extremist ideology, do not challenge aggressively — note and discuss with the DSL afterwards
- Channel referrals are voluntary and non-criminalising — this should be emphasised to reduce resistance to the referral process
If a pupil makes a disclosure during this session, follow your school's safeguarding procedures and refer to your DSL immediately.
Key Messages
- The Prevent duty is a legal obligation on all educational institutions — familiarity is not optional
- Radicalisation is a process, not an event — early identification is possible and effective
- Channel is a support pathway, not a criminal process — referral can genuinely help vulnerable young people
- Effective counter-narratives address the underlying grievance as well as the ideology
- The civil liberties concerns about Prevent are legitimate and worth engaging with honestly
Support Resources
| Organisation | Contact | Purpose |
|---|
| Childline | 0800 1111 | 24/7 support for young people |
| Crimestoppers | 0800 555 111 | 100% anonymous reporting |
| CEOP | ceop.police.uk | Report online exploitation |
| NSPCC | 0808 800 5000 | Child protection advice |
| Emergency | 999 | Immediate danger |