London's private girls’ schools will today teach pupils about female genital mutilation in a bid not to “shy away” from difficult issues.
£14,000 a year Croydon High School is hosting a conference for sixth formers at other private schools after a pupil flagged up the issue.
Dr Comfort Momoh, who runs the FGM clinic at St Thomas’ Hospital, will speak to girls about the horrific procedure that affects 66,000 women in the UK, with a further 24,00 girls at risk.
Up to 200 pupils will attend the event, from London private schools belonging to the Girls’ Day School Trust - a group of independent girls’ schools – and other local schools including Oasis Academy Coulsdon.
FGM survivor Ifrah Ahmed, who is originally from Somalia and now lives in Ireland, will tell her story at the conference at Croydon High School, where alumni include cellist Jacqueline du Pre.
Heidi Mester, head of sixth form at Croydon High, said: “The objective for the day is to give the girls a clear understanding of the issues and the implications of this barbaric practice. We want them to go away, armed with the facts and able to spread the message in their wider communities.
“This conference is an important part of our commitment to provide girls with education in the broadest sense. We do not shy away from difficult issues, but instead feel it is imperative that we encourage girls to form their opinions based on a proper understanding of relevant issues.”
The conference came about when a prefect at Croydon High read about FGM and did work experience at Comfort Momoh’s clinic at St Thomas’s. She suggested that today’s sixth form conference should tackle the issue.
The event has been organised in partnership with the National Council of Young Women.
Barbara Maddison from the NCYW said: “We are delighted to be joining Croydon High again this year for what we are confident will be a positive and inspiring event. The National Council of Women first raised the issue of FGM many years ago and as an organisation has sustained pressure on successive Governments to take action. We are delighted that so many young women are prepared to take time to learn more about this abuse and what we as a society can do to drive it out. We are extremely proud of Croydon High’s on-going commitment to embrace the ethos of the NCYW and to empower young women to make a difference.”
