PREVENT Duty Explained for School Staff: What You Must Know in 2026
The Prevent duty requires all schools to have "due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism." But most school staff still don't know what that means in practice. This plain-English guide covers the legal requirement, the referral process, the most common misconceptions, and exactly what to do if you have a concern.
Photo: The Safeguard Hub — PREVENT duty and safeguarding
⚠ PREVENT is a safeguarding issue, not a security issue. The same principles apply as for any other welfare concern: notice, record, refer to your DSL.
What the Law Actually Requires
The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 places a statutory duty on all schools to "have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism." Updated Prevent Guidance (2023) clarified that schools must: train all staff in Prevent awareness; have a named Prevent Lead (usually the DSL); have a referral pathway to the local Channel programme; and deliver age-appropriate PSHE content on extremism.
In 2024/25, 8,778 individuals were referred to Prevent across England and Wales — a record high, up 27% on the previous year (Home Office, November 2025). Schools and colleges were the highest referring sector, accounting for 36% of all referrals, ahead of the police.[1] A total of 1,472 cases (17%) were adopted as formal Channel support cases requiring a multi-agency plan. This reflects both increased staff awareness and the genuine scale of radicalisation risk in educational settings.
What Changed: Prevent Duty Guidance 2023
The revised Prevent Duty Guidance came into force in England and Wales on 31 December 2023, strengthening legal obligations on all specified authorities including schools. Key changes from the 2015 guidance:
- Clearer definitions of vulnerability to radicalisation — moving beyond ideological indicators to include psychological and social risk factors
- Strengthened online dimension — schools must treat radicalisation through online platforms, gaming environments and encrypted messaging with the same seriousness as face-to-face influence
- Explicit equal weight given to far-right extremism alongside Islamist and other forms of extremism, reflecting the changing threat landscape
- Governor accountability — governing bodies must ensure a nominated Prevent lead and that all staff receive appropriate training
Warning Signs of Radicalisation
Radicalisation is not limited to any single ideology. In 2024/25, referrals were split between far-right extremism (21%), Islamist extremism (10%), cases with no clear ideology or a mixed, unstable or unclear concern (34%, the largest single group), and other or remaining categories (~35%).[2] Warning signs to look for include:
Ideological indicators
- Expressing that violence is justified for a political, religious, or ideological cause
- Consuming or sharing content from extremist groups or propaganda channels
- Using "us vs them" language that dehumanises a group
- Sudden or radical change in beliefs — especially combined with social withdrawal
Vulnerability indicators
- Social isolation or rejection — making the pupil receptive to a group offering belonging
- Family breakdown or bereavement linked to a traumatic event involving a political cause
- Identity confusion — particularly for young people navigating faith, culture, or belonging
- Being bullied or discriminated against based on religion, ethnicity, or political identity
The 3 Common Misconceptions
- "PREVENT is about Muslims." FALSE. PREVENT covers all forms of extremism — far-right, far-left, incel-linked, single-issue, and Islamist. In 2024/25 only 10% of referrals related to Islamist extremism, compared with 21% for the extreme right wing and 34% with no clear ideology.
- "A referral means the police will be involved." Not automatically. Channel is a voluntary, multi-agency support programme. Most referrals result in a support plan — not a police investigation. The focus is on early intervention.
- "I need to be certain before I refer." FALSE. The threshold for a Prevent referral is "reasonable concern" — not certainty or proof. The DSL and Channel panel assess the risk; your job is to notice and report.
The CHANNEL Referral Pathway
All Channel referrals are confidential and non-criminalising. The focus is voluntary support, not prosecution. Urgent concerns: 999. ACT Early referral portal: actearly.uk
What NOT to Do
- Do not challenge extremist views directly with the young person — this can entrench positions and break trust
- Do not make a referral without speaking to your DSL first, unless there is an immediate safeguarding risk
- Do not assume ideology based on ethnicity, religion or cultural dress — radicalisation risk is not ethnically or religiously determined
- Do not promise confidentiality if a young person discloses views or plans that suggest a risk of violence
What to Do If You Have a Concern
Exactly the same as any other safeguarding concern: do not investigate yourself; record your observations (what you saw or heard, using the child's exact words); refer to your DSL the same day. The DSL will assess and decide whether a Channel referral is appropriate. You can also contact your local Prevent coordinator directly if you are concerned the DSL is not acting on a referral appropriately.
Citations
[1] Home Office (2025). Individuals Referred to and Supported Through the Prevent Programme: year ending March 2025. Home Office.
[2] Home Office (2025). Prevent Statistical Bulletin: year ending March 2025. Home Office.
[3] HM Government (2023). Revised Prevent Duty Guidance for England and Wales. Home Office.
[4] DfE (2025). Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025. DfE.