Editorial Comment

Forcing teachers to report FGM ‘could stop children seeking help’

NEW rules forcing teachers to report cases of FGM to police will make it harder for children to seek help, it was claimed today.

Teachers are now legally obliged to tell police, but this could undermine the trust children have in them, the ATL conference heard.

Delegates were today set to debate an emergency motion calling on the Government to remove the “threat of c r i mi n a l i s a t i o n” f ro m education professionals.

David Cameron announced at the Girl Summit in London last year that doctors, social workers and teachers would be legally obliged to report female genital mutilation if they encounter it, and mandatory reporting of FGM was introduced in the Serious Crime Act whi c h re c e ive d r oy a l assent this month.

Teachers who fail to report cases will be dealt with by existing disciplinary measures. But Helen Porter, a biology teacher from Newbury, said the move could cause children to lose their trust in teachers, and mean teachers quit the profession for fear of being disciplined and “vilified”.

She said teachers also fear being criminalised for failing to report sexual exploit ation and r adic al i s at i on as well.

“All teachers want to stop these things and are absolutely horrified by the events in Rotherham,” she added. But she said the current system, where teachers report concerns to a member of staff dedicated to child protection, already works well.

Ms Porter admitted staff need more training about the signs and symptoms of sexual exploitation and radicalisation, but said the new rules would mean children “will be less likely to talk to a teacher” and families could move them to a different school.