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Mayor Biggs joins Education Secretary to launch education campaign against hate

41Secretary of State for Education Nicky Morgan and security minister John Hayes were joined by Mayor John Biggs alongside Tower Hamlets staff and headteachers for the launch of a new online initiative to safeguard our children.
The launch of Educate Against Hate was held at Bethnal Green Academy on January 19th.
The Educate Against Hate website is a collection of resources developed by the Department for Education and the Home Office, in which the work of Tower Hamlets staff features.
Educate Against Hate’s aim is to raise awareness among teachers, governors and parents, of the risks to children from extremism and radicalisation, and provides them with the knowledge and resources to help safeguard children under their care.
Tower Hamlets has led the way in safeguarding children against radicalisation in recent months following increased risks.
Tower Hamlets schools have worked closely with the council and the police to ensure there are clear policies and practices in place to identify vulnerable children and refer them for support promptly when appropriate. They have developed shared materials and resources to promote values- based programmes across the curriculum and for all age ranges. There has also been work to promote safe online behaviour with pupils as well as parents through the Parental Engagement Team.
Educate Against Hate will now roll out a national framework of teaching resources to aid teachers in resisting any spread of radicalisation and intolerance. The audience were given live demonstrations of the new website at the launch.
Mayor John Biggs said: “I was pleased to welcome the Department for Education and Home Office to Tower Hamlets in order to showcase our partnership work, both locally and nationally, to keep children safe. Only through strengthening parents, teachers and communities in identifying and responding to the warning signs of radicalisation can we protect children and young people from harm.”
Cllr Shiria Khatun, cabinet member for community safety, added: “I’m proud of the work this council has been doing in schools, places of worship and community groups through projects like our Social Inclusion Panel. Today’s launch of Educate Against Hate means we now have another vital resource for our schools.”
“We are determined to keep children safe in and out of school,” Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said.
“Today’s announcement of resources and tougher powers to protect young, impressionable minds from radical views will send a clear message to extremists that our children are ‘firmly out of your reach’.”
Bethnal Green Academy principal Mark Keary added: “We face a daunting task but have to find a way to make it work. We cannot allow our children to grow up in fear and hate.”