Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Female genital mutilation refers to procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. The practice is illegal in the UK. FGM typically takes place between birth and around 15 years old.

School is aware of the common risk factors for FGM which include;

• Low level of integration into UK society.
• Mother or sister who has undergone FGM
• Girls who are withdrawn from PSHE
• Visiting female elder from the country of origin
• Talk about a special procedure to become a woman.

FGM is addressed as part of the procedures around ‘Honour Based Violence’ which is defined as “crimes which have been committed to protect and defend the honour of the family and/or the community, including FGM, Forced Marriage and practices such as Breast Ironing”

The school has due regard to the mandatory reporting duty, which came into force in October 2015, of the FGM Act 2003, which places a statutory duty on staff to report to the police where they discover that FGM appears to have been carried out on a girl under 18 years. Staff in this school will be vigilant and will report promptly any FGM or other HBV concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead. It is the ultimate responsibility of the member of staff who discovers FGM to report this to the proper authorities. Designated Safeguarding Lead within school will support staff whilst doing this More information on these issues is contained in Annex A of Keeping Children Safe in Education (2020)