Addressing Radicalisation into the Classroom - A New Approach to Teacher and Pupil Learning

This article examines one response to the UK Governments directive that radicalisation and extremism should be tackled in all UK secondary schools. The small scale study, which is set in the broader literature of teaching often difficult PHSE topics to young people in secondary school and also the use of simulations as tools for learning in the classroom, analyses the responses of teachers to being trained with and using ‘Zak’ a bespoke research based simulation on the radicalisation process. An analysis of the teacher’s’ responses indicated that it was recognised that the principales of adults manipulating children, whether for sexual gratification or radicalisation, are considered to be very important topics for staff working with young people in school settings to address. It was also recognised as to be a flexible learning tool which enabled various pathways to be explored with young people in lessons to explore and raise issues regarding many aspects of e- safety, not just radicalisation. Additionally, the teachers remarked that the social media ‘Facebook’ format of the simulation was appreciated by the young people and this appeal resulted in their immersion with it as a teaching aid. Also of significance was how the ‘Zak’ package was delivered into schools with the staff reporting that the inter-professional training delivered by specialist police trainers and the accompanying materials enhanced the learning and confidence of the teachers on this multi-faceted and complex topic

Zak - exploring radicalisation an inter-professional training pack

A 29 page inter-professional training pack with a literature review and activities relating to the simulatio

Radicalisation and Child Protection: thinking it through

Part of: Practical Guidance - Prevent and social work: policy, procedures and resource

Using Zak, an innovative, interactive simulation to explore radicalisation through the education curriculum.

The purpose of this paper is to contextualise and present the innovative teaching and learning tool ‘Zak’ which has been designed to stimulate discussion amongst young people in schools on the topics of radicalisation and extremism (Borum, 2004). The tool has been designed to encourage young people to explore their views and values on these complex and controversial topics in a safe and facilitated way. Zak is currently being ‘rolled out’ to all schools in one demographic region in the UK (Kent). The paper explores the use of the tool and provides initial analysis of evaluative feedback on the product from groups of professionals. This tool has particular relevance to the value change conference as it investigates an innovative approach to exploring how values on the often contentious and controversial topics of radicalism and extremism are tackled with young people in secondary schools

Radicalisation and Extremism: a guide for social workers and those involved in social care

Part of: Practical Guidance - Prevent and social work: policy, procedures and resource