Recommendation MAI-54: School records on radicalisation vulnerability
From Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 3: Radicalisation and Preventability, published 2 March 2023.
Recommendation
I recommend that the Department for Education consider whether schools should include notes of any significant behavioural problems on the Common Transfer File, or some other suitable new form of record which follows a student if they move school. The focus should be on any behaviour that may be indicative of violent extremism, such as physical aggression or misogynistic conduct. This kind of behaviour is consistent with the development of a violent extremist mindset, but is not necessarily an indication of it by any means. Details as to what nature of incident and level of seriousness should be included in such a record will therefore require careful thought by the Department for Education, alongside consultation with relevant stakeholders.
In brief (written by this site)
In February 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that the Department for Education's work on the recommendation remained in progress (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). The department stated in February 2026 that it had analysed sector responses to a call for evidence on statutory safeguarding guidance to inform its proposed approach (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). It noted in the same February 2026 update that it still needed to take a detailed submission to ministers and was awaiting broader government steers on the guidance (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026).
Sources
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
Accepted in full
Delivery
Cabinet Office says in progress (27 February 2026)
We utilised the existing call for evidence on the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KSCIE) statutory guidance to gather views from the sector to inform our response. We have these and have analysed the responses. We have had initial high level discussions with new Ministers but need to take a more detailed submission to them to discuss our proposed approach, which is likely to be carried out through KCSIE and through non-statutory guidance on safeguarding learners vulnerable to radicalisation. We are awaiting broader steers on the new government's approach to KCSIE to inform how we incorporate our MAI recommendations.
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Cabinet Office (14 November 2025)
We utilised the existing call for evidence on the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KSCIE) statutory guidance to gather views from the sector to inform our response. We have these and have analysed the responses. We have had initial high level discussions with new Ministers but need to take a more detailed submission to them to discuss our proposed approach, which is likely to be carried out through KCSIE and through non-statutory guidance on safeguarding learners vulnerable to radicalisation. We are awaiting broader steers on the new government's approach to KCSIE to inform how we incorporate our MAI recommendations.
From: Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, original version (data file)
Source
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- UK Government
Response - Cabinet Office
Delivery statement