Why this is leading practice
Cheney School works alongside partners including the Local Authority, Thames Valley Police, a theatre company, role models from the local community and the Imam of Eton College to promote community cohesion. The school developed a programme which tackles issues of Jihad and identity for young people in a multi-cultural comprehensive school and society. The work crossed Local Authority boundaries, and caught the interest local educational, civic and community leaders, and of Secretary of State, who visited the school. The school's contribution to the issue of Preventing Violent Extremism is included in the DfCS toolkit " Learning Together to be Safe ".
Impact to date
- Students feel more secure and comfortable with their own identity.
- They have access to systems and resources that support their curiosities questions and issues.
- The school uses positive role models to lead the students to explore pathways and options for their lives.
- Conferences attended by students allow them to explore options that provide fulfilment and satisfaction.
- Students now feel more confident to express themselves and these impact positively on their confidence and self esteem.
- There is evidence that the impact of this project is seen within the community served by the school and at a regional level with other areas of the Thames Valley Police Force seeking advice and guidance about the project.
- The project is also impacting at a national level with the work of the project reflected in the DfCS Toolkit.
Rationale / Start Point
Recognising that all its students needed to feel confident and have good levels of self esteem Cheney School provides opportunity for Muslim students to discuss topics of concern. The school hosted a performance by a Theatre Company which tackled issues of race, identity, extremism, hate and love. Facilitated workshops extended the opportunity for students to explore these issues. Working alongside Oxford Brookes University and Thames Valley Police the school "show-cased" the programme to schools from across the county. Cheney School also set up a conference for students, with workshops delivered by role models from the local community.
Key Strategies
There are a wide range of strategies deployed by the school to ensure the development and extension of this project.
- The Headteacher has appointed a senior member of staff to lead the project and she ensures that the Governing Body are engaged and kept up to date with progress and developments.
- A number of important local stakeholders are engaged to support the project including the local Police Force and local Muslim Imam who both play an active part in leading aspects of the project.
- Local role models are engaged by the school to provide examples of positive achievement.
- The school leads at a local and national level to build capacity in other local schools and organisations.
- It hosts conferences and engages students so they have the opportunity to learn and aspire to achieve at high levels.
- Within the school students have opportunities to explore issues and express concerns in sensitive and confidential ways that encourage all students to engage positively and address concerns.
Sustainability and Further Development
- The project is well established and embedded in the school.
- There is evidence of positive impact and students can relate to key opportunities to engage and express their concerns.
- The project has an impact beyond the school in the local community, in other local schools and nationally through the DfCS Toolkit.