‘Put tackling extremism on national curriculum’ Teacher’s call for lessons to prevent repeat of Trojan Horse

AteaCHer and Birmingham councillor is calling on the Government to put challenging extremism, tackling child sexual exploitation and domestic violence on the national curriculum.

Councillor Des Flood, an assistant head teacher responsible for pastoral support at Bartley Green School, said making personal, social health and economic (pSHe) education compulsory could also lessen the threat of another extremist trojan Horse scandal.

The Conservative councillor said Birmingham’s track record on child protection had been poor, but pSHe education could prepare children to deal with real world dangers like anti-social behaviour, knife crime, guns and gangs as well as lessen the threat of radicalisation and grooming.

In the wake of the trojan Horse scandal, in which Islamists tried to take over several inner-city schools and impose their hard line ideology on children, all schools are now required to promote British values such as tolerance, democracy and individual liberty.

Speaking ahead of the Conservative party Conference in Birmingham, Councillor Flood said this now needed to go further to help children deal with challenges outside the school gates.

He said: “It is important that we protect and support children and young people. Compulsory pSHe is the obvious place for such learning, to teach resilience and identity. The subject also gives pupils a chance to talk about those difficult issues, which we must not shy away from.”

He added: “Other challenges which schools face include keeping children safe online, as well as the issues which exist out in the community, including anti-social behaviour, knife crime and gangs. Schools need to ensure that the culture of the street stops at the school gate. Schools need to teach pupils the skills to understand choice and consequences, which can only be taught effectively within a pSHe programme.

“We need to get this right and act decisively if we are to deliver an adequate entitlement to all children and young people.

“If we support and educate our children now, we help lay foundations for healthy relationships in the future. The life chances of millions of children and young people will be affected and we must not miss this opportunity to ensure all children and young people get the learning they need to help keep themselves and others safe.”

Schools need to ensure that the culture of the street stops at the school gate Councillor Des Flood