TERROR-LINK SCHOOLKIDS ON THE RISE
TERROR alerts within Britain’s schools are on the rise.
Staff worried about extremism in the classroom have issued a startling 741 warnings in two-and-a-half years.
In some months, up to three alerts a day were logged with the Department for Education.
Issues raised have included fears over radicalisation among pupils and staff members, as well as school policy towards extremist behaviour.
In June – the month Islamic State-obsessed terrorists killed eight people in a van and knife rampage on London Bridge – teachers raised the alarm about extremism on 76 occasions, the highest tally this year.
And just a month earlier, when suicide bomber Salman Abedi slaughtered 22 outside Manchester Arena, there were 63 alerts, the second highest figure in 2017.
Sara Khan, co-founder of antiextremism charity Inspire, said: “These figures show that teachers are increasingly concerned about extremism among pupils and re taking their responsibility of safeguarding seriously.
“When extremists – both far right and Islamist – target children, this is a form of child abuse and falls within a teacher’s role of safeguarding.”
She added: “There is no doubt that we are seeing a rise in both far right and Islamist extremism, including children expressing extremist views.”
A Department for Education spokesman said: “We established a telephone and email helpline to provide advice and guidance to anyone with questions relating to extremism.
“Where concerns are raised we will investigate further and take appropriate action.”