Wolverhampton College staff given training to help protect students from extremism

The safeguarding training was brought in to give employees the skills to support students who they feel may be vulnerable to radicalisation.

It comes in response to new Ofsted inspection guidelines requiring schools and colleges to take steps to curb the threat of extreme influences.

The training, which was provided in-house, forms part of the college's mission to make staff aware of national issues. The college was recently praised for its safeguarding arrangements in an Ofsted report.

Inspectors noted: "All staff within the college have received training on safeguarding, including training specifically to protect students from radicalisation. Staff are able to identify quickly any students, or groups of students who are at risk."

Principal Mark Robertson said that although there had been no issues of radicalisation at the college, the training was part of a drive to maintain high standards of safeguarding.

He added: "All aspects of safeguarding training are part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining the inclusive and harmonious setting for learning that students benefit from, and the safe and mutually respectful atmosphere that students and staff value.

"This was highlighted by Ofsted in our recent report, with inspectors stating that our safeguarding arrangements are good, with outstanding features, and that students feel very safe at the college."

Earlier this year former education secretary Michael Gove wrote to all schools and colleges in England urging them to watch out for signs of radicalisation in the wake of the so-called 'Trojan Horse' scandal.

The plot, which involved a number of schools in Birmingham, involved the alleged ousting of headteachers by Islamic extremists attempting to take over the running of the schools.

Last month Ofsted published a report warning that pupils at six independent schools in east London were 'vulnerable to extreme influences'.

Andrew Hall, an education consultant specialising in safeguarding and child protection, said staff need to be aware of a number of factors when looking out for possible signs of extremism.

They include students being in contact with extremist recruiters, accessing violent extremist websites - especially those with a social networking element, possessing or accessing violent extremist literature, justifying the use of violence to solve social issues and joining or seeking to join extremist organisations.

Ofsted recently compiled a list of schools it said 'were not teaching respect for and understanding of the various faiths'.