Further education providers not adequately protecting learners from extremism

A report by Ofsted has found that a number of further education colleges and skills providers are leaving learners at risk of radicalisation and extremism.

The study, entitled, How well are further education and skills providers implementing the ‘Prevent’ duty?’ recognised that many further education colleges and sixth forms had made good progress in implementing the Prevent strategy. However, it warned that many small, independent and isolated learning providers were struggling to implement the duty adequately.

The Prevent scheme places a legal duty on further education providers to have ‘due regard’ to the risk of learners being drawn into terrorisim. However, the report found that too many providers viewed the duty as a ’tick-box exercise’ and not an important part of their responsibilities towards learners, which could ultimately place learners at risk.

The investigation found that almost half of providers lacked sufficient safeguards, with some bypassing security setting to access websites associated with extremist ideology and others failing to carry out background checks on external speakers.

Commenting on the findings, Paul Joyce, Ofsted’s deputy director for Further Education and Skills, said: “It is reassuring that over half of the providers visited for this survey were found to be making good progress in implementing the Prevent duty, and are ultimately keeping their learners and local communities safe. Leaders in the general further education and sixth form colleges we visited should be commended for the quick progress they have made in implementing this new responsibility.

“However, it is concerning that in some colleges and providers the progress made in implementing the duty has been slow. It is worrying that inspectors saw examples of poor practice that I’ve no doubt would shock parents and learners alike.

“I am calling on providers, local authorities and the government to take on board Ofsted’s recommendations. We need to work together to ensure that we keep learners safe and protect them from all forms of extremism.”