Posted on Friday 1st Apr 2016
Teachers have warned that the government's anti-extremism strategy is "shutting down" open debate in school.
The National Union of Teachers conference voted for the government's Prevent strategy to be withdrawn from schools and colleges.
Delegates said it created "suspicion and confusion" rather than safety in schools.
The Department for Education says it "makes no apology" for protecting young people from extremism.
The NUT's annual conference in Brighton heard warnings that the counter-radicalisation policy was stopping teachers from discussing "challenging ideas" with their pupils.
There were warnings that it encouraged a climate of "over-reaction" in which pupils were mistakenly reported and the police called.
Among the cases mentioned were a child writing about a "cucumber" which was misinterpreted as "cooker bomb" and a child who wrote about living in a "terraced" house which was misunderstood as a "terrorist" house.
Can't find what you are looking for?
Don't worry, please call us anyway to discuss your ideal job.
Latest News
02/10/24A special needs school in Maidstone has opened a café in a train carriage to offer on-the-job training.
A special needs school in Maidstone has opened a café in a train carriage to offer on-the-job training.
30/09/24Teaching assistant recruitment a struggle for 3 in 4 heads
Three in four headteachers are struggling to recruit teaching assistants, with most secondary and special school leaders anticipating needing more to cope with rising SEND demand. A government-commissioned report also found low pay was a “key reason why some TAs considered leaving the role”, and that a lack of opportunities for progression is a bugbear for around half of them.
27/09/24Maths classes of 60 pupils amid teacher shortage
A school has increased the size of some of its maths classes to 60 pupils due to a "national shortage of specialist teachers".
25/09/24Families 'will have to go elsewhere' if hubs close
A community in Kent is fighting to save a children's centre which is at risk of being closed due to a funding cut. Millmead Children’s Centre, on Dane Valley Road, Margate, is one of two centres facing closure due to cost savings by Kent County Council (KCC). An eight-week public consultation on the future of the hubs closed on Sunday. Jan Collins, who chairs the Millmead Family Hub, said it would be disastrous for the local area if the centre does not have its grant: “There are families under the responsibility of our safeguarding and child protection role, that will have to go elsewhere."
24/09/24Private school VAT hike 'unfair' for SEND pupils
Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) might lose their extra support at private schools once a 20% VAT is introduced.