What should you not do?

• Treat such allegations merely as a domestic issue and send the student back to the family home
• Ignore what the student has told you or dismiss out of hand the need for immediate protection
• Decide that it is not your responsibility to follow-up the allegation
• Approach the student's family or those with influence within the community, as this will alert them to your concerns and may place the student in danger
• Contact the family in advance of any enquiries by the police, the Forced Marriage Unit, adult or children's social care, either by telephone or letter
• Share information outside information sharing protocols without the express consent of the student
• Attempt to be a mediator.

What to do when a student stops attending school?

Local authorities in England have a duty to identify all children not receiving a suitable education. This relates to children of compulsory school age who are not on a school roll and who are not receiving a suitable education otherwise than being at school (this could involve, for example, home education, private education, alternative provision).

Details of the steps local authorities need to take to meet this duty are described in “Statutory Guidance for local authorities in England to identify children not receiving a suitable education”.

There may be occasions when a student does not return to education after a holiday or they may stop attending school during term time. In these situations, staff may have a suspicion that forced marriage is an issue. If a child does not return to education, schools must enter the name of the child on the Lost Pupil Database (LPD).

If a teacher or other member of staff suspects that a student has been removed from, or prevented from, attending education as a result of forced marriage, a referral must be made to Wolverhampton's Children's Services (01902 555392).

Role of Health Professionals

Women trapped in forced marriage often experience, violence, rape, forced pregnancy, and forced childbearing. Many girls and young women are removed from education early. Some may be unable to leave the household unescorted – living virtually under house arrest. This guidance is relevant for both male and female victims, however because 85% of those seeking help concerning forced marriage are women the consequences are different than those for men.

Many women are the main carers at home and the abuse they suffer can have a devastating impact on their children.

There are many ways that a woman can come to attention of health services including:

• Accident & Emergency Departments, rape crisis centres or genito-urinary clinics with injuries consistent of rape or other forms of violence