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Schools told: You can ban the veil - but not hairstyles
Last updated at 21:07pm on 20.03.07
Any decision on uniform policy, including the wearing of veils, is now a matter for individual headteachers
Cornrow hairstyle: Adopted by 'specific racial groups'
Schools have been given the go-ahead to ban Islamic full-face veils, gang clothing and jewellery - but they must allow braided 'cornrow' hairstyles.
They will be required to tear up existing dress code policies after Government guidelines on uniforms were published.
Hairstyles such as cornrows - plaits along the scalp - will be permitted, since they are "more likely to be adopted by specific racial groups".
Read more... • Muslim organisation offers to help school ban full-face veil
But heads are advised to ban the niqab, which covers the entire face apart from a slit for the eyes, to allow pupils to be identified and taught properly.
They can also outlaw jewellery on health and safety grounds and prevent pupils wearing styles and colours of clothing related to street gangs to "protect young people from external pressure".
This is likely to include scarves, wristbands, hooded tops and certain headgear such as bandannas or baseball caps.
Schools are also recommended to include light-coloured clothing in their dress codes and even reflective patches on blazers or jumpers to help avoid road accidents.
The guidance was broadly welcomed by teachers' leaders.
However, one Muslim leader branded the guidelines on Islamic dress "shocking".
The draft rules - now out for consultation - state that the freedom of individuals "to manifest a religion or belief" does not give them the right to do so "at any time, in any place, or in any particular manner".
Schools may decide that pupils should not cover their faces because "the teacher may not be able to judge their engagement" in class.
Heads may also ban face veils because "schools need to be able to identify individual pupils in order to maintain good order and identify intruders easily".
Schools Minister Jim Knight said security concerns and good teaching in class must always take precedence over the rights of children to wear religious dress.
The guidance claims young Muslim women can be modestly dressed "without the need" to wear the niqab in class.
Last month, a 12-year-old girl lost a legal battle to wear a full veil at her Buckinghamshire school.
Massoud Shadjareh, chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, said: "Successive ministers dealing with education issues have failed to give proper guidance when requested by human rights campaigners about schools' obligations regarding religious dress, including the headscarf, and other service delivery under human rights laws and norms."
"To now proceed to issue guidance against Muslim communities is simply shocking."
The document makes clear schools should try to accommodate religious beliefs where possible, including headscarves worn by some Christian sects and the taboo among Rastafarians on wearing second-hand clothes.
They are also urged to be careful not to discriminate against certain groups indirectly - for example by banning 'cornrow' hairstyles of the kind popular with rap stars and once sported by David Beckham.
"Banning this type of hairstyle without justification could constitute indirect racial discrimination," it said.
Schools are also urged to ensure pupils "feel comfortable" about their PE clothing - especially girls - to boost participation in sport.
And they should help towards the drive to encourage children to walk or cycle to school by keeping in mind safety when drawing up policies.
"School uniforms are often quite dark making it difficult for children to be seen by drivers especially during the winter months," the guidance states.
"School governors should consider the benefits of including light colours and/or reflective materials as part of their school uniform policy."
In dealing with breaches of uniform policy, schools are told they can send pupils home to change their clothes without formally suspending them.
Heads are advised to suspend or expel pupils only if the breaches are "persistent and defiant".
Philip Parkin, general secretary of the Professional Association of Teachers, said: "I am pleased that the guidance encourages schools to consult and be sensitive to issues of both culture and cost, while backing their right to have uniforms and, where necessary, discipline those who do not wear them."
Reader views (12)
Kids believe in Santa and the Tooth Fairy. They are gullible little things, bless their hearts. So, for a parent to brainwash their kids with religion, when they obviously haven't developed they proper critical thinking skills, is akin to child abuse.
I wish all religion would curl up and die. It stinks.
- Spa, London
Wouldn't it be easier to introduce school uniforms in every school?
- Df, London
Once again this excuse for a government refuses to take a lead, making it the local head's decision which in every case will end up in court.
- Michael Fitzpatrick, France
Religious dress should be banned in all schools, but not small symbols like a cross or a star of david etc.
- Brandon Thomas, London UK
Good decision. Those veil things are freaky, weird and divisive.
- Rachel, UK
This is not a question of the erosion of British values as a Christian nation, this more an issue of forcing children who are too young to be informed enough to make their own minds up to subscribe to their parents own delusion of choice. All religion is pernicious, and be it Islam, Judaism, Chrisitianity it is morally wrong to force children to take part in it. To force the children (of whom, let's face it will be under huge pressure to wear such ludicrous items as the niqab) to wear symbols of their "faith" (for which read belief completely unsupportable by any evidence whatsoever therefore a delusion) smacks of infriging their human rights.
- Jk, London
Again, New labour displays cowardice, leaving it to the schools to take and defend, possibly at considerable cost in time and money, decisions taken in the best interests of their pupils as a whole. It is now obvious as many said at the time, that the French Government's decision was the right one; to ban all religious dress and symbols in schools.
- Peter Haldane, London
Like it or not, we are a Christian country. I am tired of our culture being eroded.
- Philip, London, England
Ban all religious symbols in schools unless they reflect our own Christian Religion. All other symbols, caput.
- Frank, Wolverhampton, England
For once, a good decision has been made.
- Lb, London
If it breaches school uniform and the religion in question doesn't demand it as part of the faith (as Islam doesn't with veils, they're optional) and it is getting in the way of education, then I see no reason why it shouldn't be banned.
- Trevor Roll, London
Good idea. Let's ban all religious attire in public unless you are a religious leader/preacher.
- Jerry, Edgware, Uk
