Group of you people practicing balancing on one leg with one leg stretched behind them and balanced from their bodies leaning forward.

Appendix J - Prevent Strategy

Northern Ballet is fully committed to implementing the Prevent Duty as part of our wider safeguarding and welfare responsibilities. This strategy sits alongside the schools safeguarding Policy and aligns with the requirements of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 and OfS Condition E2.

Legislative Framework and Compliance

This strategy is compliant with the following legislation and guidance: 

  • Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015
  • Prevent and Channel Duty Guidance (2023)
  • Online Safety Act 2023
  • Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill (Martyn's Law)
  • Equality Act 2010
  • UK Quality Code for Higher Education
  • Office for Students (OfS) Prevent Monitoring Framework and Reporting Requirements

Strategic Aims and Prevent Objectives

Northern Ballet is committed to providing a secure environment that supports freedom of expression, encourages critical thinking, and protects individuals from radicalisation. The aims of this strategy are informed by the national Prevent strategy and tailored to meet the risks and needs of our community.

This strategy aims to:

  • Embed Prevent within safeguarding, inclusion, and wellbeing frameworks.
  • Recognise signs of radicalisation and intervene early.
  • Ensure a proportionate, risk-based approach to Prevent.
  • Promote British values and support student resilience.

Prevent Objectives (The 3 I's):

  • Ideology: Challenge extremist ideas and promote democratic values.
  • Individuals: Support vulnerable individuals and intervene early.
  • Institutions: Strengthen Northern Ballet’s capacity to manage risks of radicalisation.

Oversight and Governance

  • The Designated Safeguarding Lead’s (DSL) is the Prevent Lead.
  • Prevent is reported through the Safeguarding Committee.

Roles and Responsibilities

Embedding Prevent across the organisation requires the shared understanding and commitment of all members of the Northern Ballet community. Outlined below are the responsibilities of everyone in supporting Prevent aims.

  • Receive Prevent information at induction.
  • Are encouraged to engage respectfully in discussions.
  • Are supported through personal tutors, and wellbeing services.

Internal Referral Procedure

Early identification and referral of concerns are central to Prevent implementation. As with our Safeguarding protocols staff and students can raise concerns with the DSL

  • Staff or students should report concerns in person or via the safeguarding cause for concern form.
  • The Prevent Lead (DSL) will assess, record, and escalate as needed.
  • Emergency concerns must be reported to 999 and the Facilities Team (where relevant).
     

External Referral and Channel Panel

When internal action is not sufficient, Northern Ballet will work with external agencies such as the Local Authority and the Police. Our referral pathways are as follows 

  • Prevent concerns can be referred to:

Information Sharing and Confidentiality

Protecting individual rights while addressing risk is essential. Northern Ballet’s approach to data protection, lawful information sharing, and confidentiality in Prevent cases adhere to:

  • The Data Protection Act 2018
  • Common Law Duty of Confidentiality
  • Consent-based information sharing where appropriate
  • Necessity and proportionality when assessing referrals
     

Prevent-Related Serious Incident Reporting (OfS) (For MA students only)

In accordance with OfS requirements, Northern Ballet must report serious incidents related to Prevent.
Incidents must be reported to the OfS (via our validating partner, NSCD) within five days if they:

  • Lead to significant policy revision
  • Cause harm to students, staff, or the institution’s reputation
  • Are perceived to relate to Prevent (including hate crime, arrests, near misses)
     

British Values and Inclusion

Promoting British values is a key component of the Prevent Duty.

  • Northern Ballet promotes democracy, rule of law, liberty, tolerance and mutual respect.
  • Northern Ballet adheres to the Equality Act 2010 and promotes inclusivity.

Key Policies Supporting Prevent

The Prevent Duty is embedded within a wider ecosystem of policies, key institutional documents that reinforce NSCD’s commitment to safeguarding against radicalisation include

  • Safeguarding Policy
  • IT Acceptable Use Policy
  • Health & Safety Policy (aligned with Martyn’s Law)
  • Student Code of Conduct