Statement

Oxford School of English understands its responsibilities under the Counter Terrorism & Security Act 2015 to prevent people of all ages being radicalised or drawn into terrorism, and seeks to meet its obligations in the ways shown below.

Context

Oxford School of English provides English language courses in its adult and junior schools throughout the year, for students from countries around the world. In the adult school, most students are 19 years old or more, although the minimum age is 16; in the junior school, most students are in their early teens or younger. Many of these students are very short-term (particularly in the junior school), studying at the school for only two or three weeks, although a proportion stays longer.

In its busiest weeks during July and August, the combined schools may have 500 students and 50 staff, and work with more than 100 homestay providers.

Oxford School of English has always promoted a multi-cultural environment where respect for and tolerance of others’ beliefs are required.

The school is located in the centre of Oxford, a fast-growing international city with a population of 158,000. Oxford has the third-highest ethnic minority population in south-east England with 28% of residents born outside of the United Kingdom (Oxford Profile: Key Facts 2016).

Our Responsibilities

• To promote the British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
• To make and maintain contact with the local police/local authority Prevent coordinator to understand their role and the support available.
• To possess clear, visible policies and procedures for managing whistleblowing & complaints.
• To ensure that policies are in place for learners using IT equipment safely, legally, and securely.
• To ensure that Prevent complements the school’s safeguarding and equality acts and covers the welfare and safety of learners & staff.
• To carry out risk assessments to address the organisation’s implementation of Prevent.
• To install robust procedures for managing subcontractors (including homestays) and their awareness and implementation of Prevent.
• To train all staff in Prevent.
• To ensure that staff exemplify British Values in their management, teaching, and through general behaviours in the organisation.
• To ensure that opportunities within the curriculum are used to promote British Values to learners.
• To maintain robust procedures for sharing information internally and externally about vulnerable individuals.
• To have a clear Prevent referral process with single points of contact known to all staff and learners.
• To ensure that pastoral care is at the heart of the provision and sufficient pastoral care is available to all learners who are vulnerable to being exploited.