Everyone has a role in influencing decision making, at national, local and community level. At Distinguished this could include learners exercising their democratic influence through forums or feedback mechanisms. Learners have influence for example on which charities to support, or on developing procedures to improve their experience whilst studying with Distinguished.

This relates to an understanding of the importance of having laws and the consequence of breaking them, accepting that no one is above the law. It is about individuals having an understanding of their rights and responsibilities, as learners, employees, consumers, service users and citizens in society. At Distinguished this could include encouraging learners to accept responsibility for their behaviour; enabling them to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of the country.

This relates to rights and responsibilities as citizens; the right to act, believe and express oneself in a manner of one’s own choosing. This requires an understanding of the balance between freedom of speech and expression and the potential negative impact on others. At Distinguished, this could include enabling learners to understand the impact of their own behaviour on others and encouraging learners to become responsible individuals who actively participate in their own development.

These values underpin the work we do and are promoted through our systems, practices and procedures and all aspects of the learner journey.

Extremism is where someone holds views that are intolerant of people of a different ethnicity, culture, religion, gender or sexual identity. These views can be used to justify political, religious, sexist, homophobic, transphobic or racist violence.

Radicalisation happens when a person’s thinking and behaviour become significantly different from how most of the members of their society and community view social issues and participate politically.

People who become radicalised can be from a diverse range of ethnic, national, political and religious groups. As a person radicalises they may begin to seek to change significantly the nature of society and government. However, if someone decides that using fear, terror or violence is justified to achieve ideological, political or social change – this is violent extremism.

Violent far-right or Islamist extremists, usually attract people to their cause through a persuasive narrative which will attempt to explain why a person may feel certain grievances, thus justifying any violent or criminal actions which are seen to avenge any perceived wrongs suffered.

Young people may be drawn to extreme views because:

• They may be searching for answers to questions about identity, faith and belonging
• They are trying to make sense of world events
• They have a personal grievance or experience of racism or discrimination and feel they want to change things
• They are under pressure from their peers who have links with these

Young people may come into contact with adults and peers with extremist views both online and in everyday life. This person may be a relative or stranger they meet online.

Contact online may be through sites such as Facebook, Twitter or YouTube or other social sites. Children may need to spend a lot of time on the internet while studying, but sometimes young people can be invited to use other less well-known sites such as KiK, Whisper or Yik Yak. Extremists often use these sites because they are harder to monitor and they can hide their identity.

These can be useful tools but we need to be aware there are powerful programmes and networks that use social media to reach out to young people and can communicate extremist messages.

Extremists often manipulate young people by using emotional triggers to engage with them and may target them when they are experiencing difficulties such as bereavement, emotional trauma, mental health issues or social isolation.

The following could describe general teenage behaviour but together with other signs may mean a young person is being radicalised:

1. Out of character changes in dress, behaviour and peer relationships
2. Spending increasing amounts of time online
3. Becoming quick to condemn others who do not share their beliefs without interest in their point of view
4. Secretive behaviour
5. Losing interest in friends and activities
6. Becoming isolated or withdrawn
7. Showing sympathy for extremist causes
8. Justifying or even glorifying violence
9. Possessing illegal or extremist literature