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Children will be taught about terrorism and violent extremism, ministers will announce today, in an attempt to get schools and colleges to tackle the problem of teenagers being radicalised or indoctrinated.

Ed Balls, the Schools Secretary, will issue guidance on how schools should approach the subjects. The Government has previously issued advice for universities on how to prevent the spread of extremism on campus.

It is expected to recommend that teachers in charge of citizenship lessons should have greater freedom to discuss extremism. The guidance, Plan Together To Be Safe, was welcomed by teachers' leaders, but they said that pupils should be free to discuss radicalisation without fearing that teachers would contact the police.

Christine Blower, the acting general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: “Terrorist threats have to be tackled. The significant section within the guidance argues for much greater professional freedom to be allowed to teachers who are on the front line of promoting community cohesion. No teacher will ignore obvious information about a specific, real threat, but it is vital that teachers are able to discuss with and listen to pupils, without feeling that they have to report every word.”

It is thought that schools will receive £4.5 million to help them to support the scheme.

Chris Keates, the general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said: “We are living in challenging and difficult times which require concerted action if we are to overcome the threat of violent extremism, prejudice and bigotry. There can be no doubt that extremist groups are seeking to target young people in order to recruit and exploit them for their pernicious purposes. Schools can make an important contribution in helping to prevent young people becoming the victims of extremism.”

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