Black Country colleges praised for preventing extremism

All three further education colleges – in Dudley, Walsall and Sandwell – were commended for their moves to prevent extremism and radicalisation.

The news emerged following the publication of an Ofsted investigation into how well colleges, sixth-forms and other education providers had implemented the Prevent strategy to protect students from being drawn into any form of radicalisation.

The policy was brought in last September. The report was based on specific visits to 37 further education and skills providers combined with findings from 46 regular inspections or monitoring visits between November last year and May this year.

Although many independent providers were found to be 'falling short' in protecting students, inspectors said that general further education colleges and sixth-form colleges were 'making good progress'.

On their visit to the West Midlands, the inspectors highlighted Walsall College as an example of best practice for safeguarding, including the way they have implemented Prevent practices.

At the request of Ofsted, the college last week held a best practice event on safeguarding, attended by several other colleges and private training providers.

College spokeswoman Sharan Shukla said: "As an Ofsted outstanding provider, Walsall College is fully committed to supporting the prevent agenda and works in partnership with local authorities to ensure it has a robust and comprehensive approach that is embedded in to a wider Safeguarding policy."

Dudley College, which was also commended by the education watchdog, said it took the safeguarding of students very seriously.

The college received praise for the ways in which it was effectively promoting British values and working with external partners, developing staff awareness of the issues and robustly carrying out risk assessments relating to all aspects of the Prevent duty.

Neil Thomas, the vice principal for curriculum, said: "The Ofsted inspectors were extremely pleased with the practice they found here. They noted we had no actions to improve and only made one suggestion as to how we can build on our existing good practice.

"We have a great deal of professional expertise amongst our governing body, who have backgrounds in safeguarding and counter-terrorism work with the police, this allows them to oversee what we do and endorse the college-wide approach we take.

"We will continue to review our actions and make sure we do the very best for our future learners with regard to this challenging issue."

Sandwell College spokeswoman Helen Dalloway said staff were pleased to have been praised by Ofsted following their visit.

She said: "The verbal feedback was very positive. The inspectors said we were one of the best further education providers they had visited and highlighted our external partnership working.

!They rated our pastoral support and the welfare of our students as good, with robust safeguarding measures in place to ensure the college is a safe placer to learn."

As with all other colleges and training providers, Walsall College received a routine visit from Ofsted to monitor how it is fulfilling its duty to safeguard students in line with the government's Prevent strategy.

Jayne Holt, assistant principle for learning services at Walsall College said: "As a result, Ofsted inspectors have highlighted the college as an example of best practice for safeguarding including on Prevent implemented to ensure students at the college are protected.

"At the request of Ofsted, the college also held a best practice event on safeguarding on Wednesday, July 6, which was attended by a number of other colleges and private training providers.

"As an Ofsted outstanding provider, Walsall College is fully committed to supporting the prevent agenda and works in partnership with local authorities to ensure it has a robust and comprehensive approach that is embedded in to a wider safeguarding policy."