Certificate in Understanding Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) (2021-22)

Course Duration: 55m (approx) online training + self-directed learning and activities + final assessment.

Female Genital Mutilation is illegal in England and Wales under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003. All teachers have a statutory duty under Section 5B to report to the police where they discover (either through disclosure by the victim or visual evidence) that FGM appears to have been carried out on a girl under 18. Those failing to report such cases may face disciplinary sanctions.

Our essential CPD course in female genital mutilation provides you and your staff with the core content you need to ensure you are complying with your legal responsibilities in relation to FGM. Delivered in high-quality video CPD format that has been skilfully organised for busy workloads and is accessible on any device, anytime, anywhere, our training has been designed to provide maximum learning potential in the leanest, most cost effective and most time-efficient manner.

Delivered by international safeguarding expert, Robin Watts, this course has been divided into eight easy-to-digest modules and contains links to further learning, resources, and case studies, with an assessment at the end to help you evidence your compliance.

This course has been designed in line with the following policies:

• Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003
• Serious Crime Act 2015
• The Children Act 1989
• Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) 2020

Learning outcomes:

• Understanding the origins of FGM, what various types of FGM exist and how it still affects girls and young women today.
• Recognising how to meet your statutory and legislative duties associated with reporting FGM and managing disclosures.
• Recognising the indicators and signs that a female might be subject to FGM and the subsequent health consequences.
• Understanding the risks associated with FGM and the barriers to reporting which can make identifying cases difficult.
• Developing subject knowledge through case studies and identifying best practice methods of protection and incident response.

Course modules:

Module 1: Understanding what FGM is

Module one explains the term ‘female genital mutilation’ and how prevalent the practice still is in the world today. You will also learn why it is still common and the myths that sustain it.

Module 2: Recognising the types of FGM

Module two explores the four major types of FGM and the cultural underpinnings and motivations behind the practice. It will also discuss it’s origins and which countries continue to carry it out.

Module 3: Indicators and risks of FGM

Module three explains how you might recognise if a student is at risk of FGM or if they have already been subject to it. You will also learn the various health consequences of FGM, both short-term and long-term.

Module 4: Legislation and protection orders

Module four presents the legislation surrounding FGM and your legal requirements when reporting cases to the police. You will also learn about protection orders and who can apply for one.

Module 5: KCSiE and mandatory reporting

In module five you will learn about your mandatory reporting duties as educators and the cultural barriers which exist in other countries that can make reporting difficult.

Module 6: Multi-agency roles and best practices

Module six will provide you with the various roles involved in protecting girls from FGM. You will discover best practices and how best to respond when an incident comes to light.

Module 7: Case studies

Module seven will provide you with case studies of how other schools in the UK have approached FGM as well as first-hand accounts from girls who have undergone FGM.

Module 8: Talking to children and others about FGM

Module eight explains how to approach girls who have undergone, or you suspect may have undergone, FGM. You will also learn how to manage disclosures and actions to take if concerns are raised.