
The subject is included in draft regulations to be presented in parliament today for compulsory relationships and sex education (RSE), due to come into force from September 2020.
The practice, which involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia usually for cultural or spiritual reasons, was a feature in 1,960 social work assessments by councils in 2017/18, according to government figures.
This number of cases was more than double those recorded in 2016/17 (970).
The new curriculum stipulates that secondary schools should address the physical and emotional damage caused by FGM, raise awareness of the support that is available, and ensure pupils know that FGM is illegal in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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