Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to include female genital mutilation as a mandatory element in the personal, social, health and economic programme of study in schools.

There is no mandatory programme of study for personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE). Schools have the autonomy to tailor their PSHE to reflect the needs of their pupils, including teaching about female genital mutilation (FGM), drawing on the resources, tools and evidence provided by experts such as the PSHE Association.

The Government has worked with the PSHE Association to develop a section of their website focusing on FGM and including a range of guidance and resources for teachers and schools to use.

The non-statutory programme of study for PSHE includes giving young people the opportunity to learn about taking care of their body, understanding that actions such as FGM constitute abuse and are a crime under British law and universal human rights, and develop the skills and strategies required to get support if they have fears for themselves or their peers.

In addition, the statutory ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ guidance, updated in September 2016, includes information for schools on the issue of FGM and reminds schools of their duty in relation to reporting cases of FGM. A copy of the guidance is attached.