Schools to monitor internet surfing to 'prevent radicalisation'

Three Bethnal Green schoolgirls are believed to have travelled to Syria in February Credit: Met Police

Schools will monitor students' internet surfing and set filters as part of a bid to prevent children being radicalised, it has been announced.

The move comes after a number of cases involving schoolchildren travelling to Syria.

There are growing concerns that children are at risk of being targeted by extremist groups online.

Ministers said that in some cases, young people had been able to access information about so-called Islamic State, otherwise known as Daesh, through school computers.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan Credit: PA

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has announced the plans, which have been published for consultation.

They include:

  • Schools will be required to filter inappropriate content

  • Schools will have to monitor pupils' internet use

  • Students will have to be taught about how to stay safe online

Fears about youngsters being at risk of radicalisation have been growing in recent months.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that three Bethnal Green Academy schoolgirls - Shamima Begum, Kadiza Sultana and Amira Abase - had travelled to Istanbul by themselves and were feared to have continued on to Syria to become so-called "jihadi brides" with militants.

CCTV of the girls at Gatwick Airport before they left the country Credit: PA

The reforms will also help to tackle other issues such as cyberbullying and pornography, the Department for Education (DfE) said.

This includes making sure young people know how to use the internet responsibly and that parents and teachers are able to keep youngsters safe from exploitation and radicalisation, she added.

The latest move comes just a week after ministers announced a crackdown on unregistered schools.