Say Anything Blog

In a move, that can’t come too soon, in my opinion, headteachers and school-governing boards will soon have the right to ban veils from the classroom.

A teacher needs to be able to see his/her pupils (no pun intended).

Schools should not be a forum for religious doctrines or the manifestation of them.

New UK government guidelines are set to spell out th right of headteachers to ban the Muslim veil or other religious dress from the classroom if they feel it is getting in the way of children learning.

Education Secretary Alan Johnson has drawn up the updated guidance after a 12-year-old girl lost a legal battle to wear the full-face niqab in class in her Buckinghamshire school last month.

A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills stressed that the Government was not imposing a blanket ban on veils at schools, and any decision on uniform policy was a matter for individual headteachers.

The guidelines will also warn schools they must not force parents to buy over-priced uniforms for their children.

The DFES spokesman said that headteachers have always been in a position to set their school’s uniform policy, and this remains the case under the new guidelines.

The new document states that schools should consult widely with parents, governors and the local community on uniform policy relating to religious dress.

Where possible, they should try to tolerate a wide range of religious and cultural items of clothing.

But they may ban certain garments, such as the full-face veil, if it is felt that they impede safety, security or the ability to learn.

The DFES is not ordering or advising headteachers to ban the veil, but is confirming that they have the ability to do so if they wish, so long as they carry out proper consultation, said the spokesman.

Headteachers will be told they will face action from the Office of Fair Trading if they impose unfair uniform policies on families.

Found here.