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The National Union of Teachers conference voted for the government's Prevent strategy to be withdrawn from schools and colleges.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
06/11/25New SEND school provides 'vital' places for Medway
A new multi-million pound school has opened to ease pressure on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) spaces in Medway.
29/09/25Year 8 pupils to sit compulsory reading tests under new plans
Year 8 pupils in England will have to sit reading tests at school under government plans due to be released this autumn.
17/09/25More school-starters missing key skills, teachers say
Schools are "picking up the pieces" as more children start reception without key skills such as speaking in full sentences or using the toilet independently, teaching unions have told the BBC.
16/09/25Parents Protest against SEND plans
‘Our children matter’: parents protest against government’s Send overhaul plans
02/09/25School to expand on land earmarked for graveyard
A number of schools in Kent are set to expand, including one on to land previously reserved for a graveyard, in an effort to meet growing demand for school places.
News Archive