Stage 06 · Why Might Someone Stay Silent? · Dignity
Dignity
Protect the person. Protect their dignity too.
Being concerned about someone does not give us permission to gossip, label them or force them to speak.
Teacher View
PurposeExplain silence and delayed disclosure without pathologising the person.
AskWhy might speaking feel difficult even when someone wants help?
MisconceptionSilence does not equal consent, and reluctance does not by itself prove FGM or risk.
SafeguardingDo not pressure pupils to disclose. Model patient, non-leading support.
Adapt / SEND–EALPresent barrier categories with icons/words and let pupils select more than one possible reason.
StretchExplore how privacy, trust, dependency and fear of consequences can overlap.
Evidence of learningLearner gives a non-pressuring support response.