Cut Flowers Education
UK Safeguarding Law for Teachers
This guide helps teachers distinguish a known case of FGM from suspected risk and understand when protection orders may be relevant.
It explains the England and Wales framework. Schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland must follow the law, statutory guidance and safeguarding procedures that apply in their own jurisdiction.
Jurisdiction: England and Wales · Last reviewed: 14 August 2026 · Content owner: Cut Flowers Education
1 · Known FGM: the personal reporting duty
Teachers in England and Wales must report a known case of FGM involving a girl under 18 directly to the police where the statutory conditions are met.
A known case is one disclosed directly by the girl to the teacher, or identified through physical signs observed by the professional in the circumstances covered by the guidance.
The duty is personal. Telling the Designated Safeguarding Lead does not replace the teacher’s own statutory report, although the teacher should involve the safeguarding lead and follow the school procedure alongside it.
Use the current Home Office procedural guidance for the reporting method and timescale.
Official mandatory-reporting procedure →2 · Suspected FGM or future risk
Suspicion, warning signs or concern that a girl may be at risk do not by themselves trigger the specific FGM mandatory-reporting duty.
They do trigger safeguarding responsibilities. Listen, record the child’s words accurately, tell the Designated Safeguarding Lead without delay and follow the school’s child-protection procedure and local referral pathway.
Do not investigate, examine the child, contact or confront the family, promise secrecy, or delay action while trying to obtain proof.
If there is an immediate risk of serious harm, use the emergency safeguarding route and contact the police.
Multi-agency statutory FGM guidance →Keeping Children Safe in Education →3 · FGM Protection Orders
An FGM Protection Order is a civil order made by the family court to protect a person who is at risk of FGM or who has already experienced it.
The court can tailor an order to the circumstances. A person at risk, another person, or a local authority acting as a relevant third party may be able to apply; others may require the court’s permission.
A teacher should not approach the family or attempt to manage an application alone. Raise the concern urgently with the Designated Safeguarding Lead so that children’s social care, the police and legal services can consider protective action.
An order can support prevention before FGM occurs. It is not a substitute for immediate safeguarding action.
Official FGM Protection Order guidance →4 · Forced marriage and protection orders
Forced marriage is a separate safeguarding and legal issue. There is no equivalent teacher-specific mandatory reporting duty simply because forced marriage is suspected, but school staff must act on safeguarding concerns.
Do not contact the family, attempt mediation or use relatives or community members as interpreters. These actions can increase risk.
A Forced Marriage Protection Order can protect a person who is being threatened with forced marriage or is already in one. Emergency orders can be made without notice where appropriate.
Follow the school safeguarding procedure and seek specialist advice, including from the Forced Marriage Unit, where relevant.
Official forced marriage guidance →Forced Marriage Protection Orders →5 · The teacher’s safe sequence
LISTEN — stay calm and take the concern seriously.
EXPLAIN — do not promise secrecy; say that information will be shared only with people who need it to help keep the pupil safe.
RECORD — use the pupil’s own words, noting the date, time and context.
REPORT — follow the personal FGM duty where it applies and the school safeguarding procedure in every case of concern.
PROTECT — do not investigate or alert people who may increase the risk.
REVIEW — use current official guidance and local safeguarding arrangements; this page supports professional understanding but does not replace them.