4 pupils may have been forced to wed

OLDHAM schools have reported four cases of suspected forced marriages in recent months.

The concerns have been raised since September 2007 and range from pupils raising fears with staff to pupils disappearing from school.

The figures do not include cases which may have been reported by Oldham’s colleges.

The schools have not been named and Councillor Kay Knox, cabinet member for children, young people and families, would not discuss individual cases.

She said: “It is unclear whether forced marriage was the intent, and we would add that the appropriate intervention and support was given to the young people in those cases.

“Most schools have someone dedicated to this issue so that pupils have trust, they have someone they know they can confide in.

“The Home Office lays down very, very clear guidance and our staff abide by that guidance which is excellent.”

Guidlines state that schools and colleges should contact the Government’s forced marriage unit if they are concerned that a male or female pupil is in danger of a forced marriage.

The council also has a register to track pupils who leave schools without any notification, which could be for a variety of reasons.

Oldham has a growing reputation for its work on forced marriage and hosted a conference this month which was organised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Forced Marriage Unit.

Councillor Knox thinks Oldham’s record dealing with the issue is improving and added: “To say that forced marriage does not happen is wrong. Some people in the community say it’s not like that anymore but that’s too dismissive.

“In my view it’s like saying because we are aware of domestic violence now it doesn’t happen. It does in all communities and it’s the same with forced marriage.”