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What is the Prevent duty, and what must schools do by law?

Prevent. The government programme to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Schools have a legal duty, the Prevent duty, to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism, as part of their wider safeguarding work.

Under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, schools must, in the exercise of their functions, have 'due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism'. The current statutory guidance is the Prevent duty guidance for England and Wales (2023), in force since 31 December 2023, with the education section at paragraphs 141 to 210. In practice it means a senior Prevent lead, staff training, a risk assessment, safe IT and visiting speaker arrangements, and referring concerns through the DSL to the police, who may pass them to a Channel panel.

Updated . Checked against the official guidance. Sources

The law

Section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 says a specified authority “must, in the exercise of its functions, have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. Schedule 6 lists the specified authorities. For schools, that means the proprietors of maintained schools, non-maintained special schools, maintained nursery schools, independent schools (including academies and free schools) and alternative provision academies, 16 to 19 academies, and PRU management committees. Registered early years and later years childcare providers are covered too (Prevent duty guidance, paragraph 146).

“Due regard” means giving the risk proper weight when you make decisions, alongside your other duties. It isn’t a separate programme. KCSIE 2026 says the Prevent duty “should be seen as part of schools’ and colleges’ wider safeguarding obligations” (Annex A).

Section 38 adds a duty for schools to co-operate, so far as appropriate and reasonably practicable, with local Channel panels and the police, including by giving information (paragraph 153).

The current guidance

The statutory guidance is the Prevent duty guidance: England and Wales (2023). It was issued on 7 September 2023 under section 29 of the Act and came into force on 31 December 2023, replacing the 2015 guidance. When we checked GOV.UK on 20 October 2026, it had last been updated on 6 March 2024, to add a print-ready version, so it is still the current guidance. KCSIE 2026 tells DSLs and senior leaders to read the education section, paragraphs 141 to 210.

The DfE’s supporting advice was replaced in September 2026 by The Prevent duty: practical guidance for designated safeguarding leads, with a Channel meetings guide and next-step checklists. It was updated on 2 October 2026 to add weaponry or explosives fixation, and antisemitism, to its list of concerning behaviours. It is non-statutory.

What schools should have in place

The guidance is built around three themes: leadership and partnership, capabilities, and reducing permissive environments.

  • A Prevent lead. All education providers “should have a designated lead in a senior management role” responsible for Prevent (paragraph 151). In most schools this is the DSL.
  • Training. Relevant staff should be trained to recognise susceptibility to radicalisation and know what to do (paragraphs 156 and 157). Each school decides who and how often, in proportion to local risk (paragraph 158). The DSL or Prevent lead needs more in-depth training, updated at least every two years (paragraph 159). The Home Office’s free GOV.UK Prevent duty training covers awareness, referrals and Channel. See how often DSL training is renewed.
  • A risk assessment. Each school should assess how its pupils or staff could be radicalised, including online, and act on any risks it finds (paragraph 162). This doesn’t need a separate Prevent policy: build it into your safeguarding policy and risk assessments (paragraph 163).
  • IT. Filtering and monitoring should take account of Prevent (paragraph 186). KCSIE says what is “appropriate” filtering is informed partly by the Prevent risk assessment (paragraph 174). See filtering and monitoring in schools.
  • Visiting speakers. Safeguarding policies should set out how speakers, whether invited by staff or pupils, are checked and supervised (paragraph 192).
  • The curriculum. Schools in England must actively promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs, which helps build resilience (paragraphs 180 and 181). Prevent shouldn’t stop discussion of difficult issues (paragraph 176), and political impartiality rules still apply (paragraph 184).
  • Information sharing. When a pupil moves school, information about Channel involvement should go with the child protection file (paragraph 171).

Ofsted inspects how well schools identify pupils at risk of harm, “including radicalisation”, as part of safeguarding (paragraph 204).

Signs of radicalisation

There is no single profile and no checklist (Prevent duty guidance, paragraph 36). The DfE’s 2026 practical guidance lists potential indicators, including:

  • sudden changes in behaviour, presentation or attitude
  • withdrawal, isolation or a new friendship group
  • divisive, intolerant, dehumanising or “us and them” language
  • grievances against particular groups, and growing interest in extremist groups or causes
  • conspiracy theories that feed extremist narratives
  • justifying violence for political, religious, racial or ideological ends
  • a fixation with weapons or explosives without a reasonable explanation
  • extremist symbols, imagery or terms
  • secrecy about online activity, or accessing or sharing extremist or terrorist material

It says to look for patterns and change over time, not one-off incidents, and that a pupil doesn’t need a clear ideology for a referral to be appropriate. Not every concern is a Prevent matter: violence with no extremist link, general crime, mental health needs and other exploitation should go through the usual safeguarding routes.

Making a Prevent referral

  1. Notice, check, share. Staff record the concern and tell the DSL straight away (Prevent duty guidance, paragraphs 42 and 43). If there is immediate danger, call 999.
  2. The DSL decides. They gather information, may speak to the pupil and parents where safe, and can ask the local authority Prevent lead or police for advice (paragraph 46).
  3. Refer on the national form. Specified authorities use the national Prevent referral form, sent in line with local arrangements (paragraph 42). You don’t need proof of radicalisation first.
  4. Police assess it. Specialist police officers carry out a “gateway assessment” (paragraph 49). Outcomes range from no Prevent action or signposting to other support, to consideration by a Channel panel.
  5. Keep supporting the pupil. A referral doesn’t end your responsibilities. Share any new information with the police (KCSIE Annex A).

KCSIE’s Annex B lists referring to the Channel programme as part of the DSL’s role.

Channel

Channel is a voluntary, confidential programme, chaired by the local authority, that gives early support to people at risk of being drawn into terrorism (Prevent duty guidance, paragraphs 53 and 54). The panel may include police, education, health and social care. A school representative may be asked to attend. Support can include mentoring, mental health support and education or careers help. Consent is needed before support starts: from a parent or guardian if the person is under 18 (paragraph 53). Where Channel isn’t suitable, other support or police-led partnerships may be used (paragraph 55).

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 creates youth diversion orders, which the police can seek for people aged 10 to 21 linked to terrorism-related conduct. When we checked legislation.gov.uk on 20 October 2026, the power to make them (section 215) was not yet in force. Concerns about how Prevent has been applied can now be reported to the Office of the Independent Prevent Commissioner.

Common questions

What is the Prevent duty in schools?

The legal duty in section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 for schools, and other specified authorities, to have 'due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism'. KCSIE 2026 says it should be seen as part of schools' wider safeguarding obligations. The statutory guidance is the Prevent duty guidance for England and Wales (2023).

Under the Prevent duty, what must all schools do by law?

Have due regard to the need to prevent pupils being drawn into terrorism, and have regard to the Prevent duty guidance. That guidance expects a senior Prevent lead, proportionate staff training, a risk assessment of how pupils could be radicalised, including online, Prevent built into safeguarding and IT policies, checks on visiting speakers, and co-operation with Channel panels. A separate Prevent policy isn't required.

What does Prevent stand for?

It isn't an acronym. Prevent is one of the key pillars of the government's counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST (Prevent duty guidance, paragraph 12). Its aim is to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism (paragraph 13).

How do I make a Prevent referral?

In a school, tell the designated safeguarding lead, who decides whether to refer. Specified authorities use the national Prevent referral form, sent in line with local arrangements, usually to the police. You don't need proof that someone has been radicalised before referring. If there is immediate danger, call 999.

Is Prevent training mandatory for teachers?

The Prevent duty guidance says schools should make sure relevant staff have training, but leaves it to each school to decide who needs what and how often, in proportion to local risk (paragraphs 156 to 158). KCSIE 2026 says the DSL and deputies should undertake Prevent awareness training, and the guidance recommends the DSL's in-depth training is updated at least every two years.

Sources

  1. Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, section 26 (Prevent duty) and section 38 (co-operation with Channel panels) (legislation.gov.uk). Last checked .
  2. Prevent duty guidance: England and Wales (2023) (Home Office, in force from 31 December 2023): paragraphs 10 to 16, 35 to 56 and 141 to 204. Last checked .
  3. Keeping children safe in education 2026 (DfE, in force from 1 September 2026): paragraphs 18, 21 and 174, Annex A, Preventing radicalisation, and Annex B. Last checked .
  4. The Prevent duty: practical guidance for designated safeguarding leads (DfE, September 2026, updated 2 October 2026). Last checked .
  5. Channel duty guidance: protecting people susceptible to radicalisation (Home Office, 2023, with policy addendum). Last checked .
  6. Get help for radicalisation concerns, including the national Prevent referral form (Home Office, updated 28 August 2026). Last checked .

This guide explains the official guidance in plain words. It isn’t legal advice. Your local safeguarding partnership’s procedures and your own policies also apply. If anything here is wrong or out of date, email support@pupilprotect.co.uk.

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