PSHE education is vital to prevent radicalisation

We may never know the factors that pushed the UK-born bomber to extremism. Yet accounts have painted a picture of a fun-loving teenager who withdrew from mainstream society. His path to radicalisation must have started somewhere, with the journey from disaffected young person to terrorist probably happening over a long period of time. Understanding this process is important if we are to prevent others from being radicalised. In playgrounds and youth groups across the country, children and young people will be talking about the Manchester attack. They will be reading about it online and sharing their views on social media. In some schools, they will be discussing the issue in personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) lessons. These types of discussions are best led by skilled professionals trained on such issues, but some schools do not teach PSHE education.