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| Schools allowed to ban face veils | Schools allowed to ban face veils |
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| Schools will be able to ban pupils from wearing full-face veils on security, safety or learning grounds under new uniforms guidance set to be issued. | Schools will be able to ban pupils from wearing full-face veils on security, safety or learning grounds under new uniforms guidance set to be issued. |
| In February, a 12-year-old girl failed in her High Court attempt to overturn her Buckinghamshire school's niqab ban. | In February, a 12-year-old girl failed in her High Court attempt to overturn her Buckinghamshire school's niqab ban. |
| Ministers promised revised guidance for England taking that into consideration. | Ministers promised revised guidance for England taking that into consideration. |
| It says efforts should be made to accommodate religious clothing but stresses the importance of teachers and pupils being able to make eye contact. | It says efforts should be made to accommodate religious clothing but stresses the importance of teachers and pupils being able to make eye contact. |
| We feel very strongly that this was a matter of principle that there shouldn't be barriers between students and teachers Head teacherVeil court case school Why Muslims wear the veil | |
| The issue of religious dress has become an increasingly complicated one for schools in recent years, with a handful of high profile cases going to court. | The issue of religious dress has become an increasingly complicated one for schools in recent years, with a handful of high profile cases going to court. |
| But it is the victory by the Buckinghamshire school, which cannot be named for legal reasons, that has prompted the updated guidance. | But it is the victory by the Buckinghamshire school, which cannot be named for legal reasons, that has prompted the updated guidance. |
| The school argued the veil made communication between teachers and pupils difficult and thus hampered learning. | The school argued the veil made communication between teachers and pupils difficult and thus hampered learning. |
| Teachers needed to be able to tell if a pupil was enthusiastic, paying attention or even distressed but full-face veils prevented this, it said. | Teachers needed to be able to tell if a pupil was enthusiastic, paying attention or even distressed but full-face veils prevented this, it said. |
| This position was upheld by the High Court - which refused to grant a judicial review - and is expected to form a key part of the guidance. | This position was upheld by the High Court - which refused to grant a judicial review - and is expected to form a key part of the guidance. |
| Guidance welcomed | Guidance welcomed |
| Schools need to be able to identify individual pupils in order to maintain good order and to identify intruders, it is expected to say. | Schools need to be able to identify individual pupils in order to maintain good order and to identify intruders, it is expected to say. |
| Find out about different styles of Muslim headscarfIn graphics | Find out about different styles of Muslim headscarfIn graphics |
| "If a pupil's face is obscured for any reason the teacher may not be able to judge their engagement with learning or secure their participation in discussions and practical activities," it adds. | "If a pupil's face is obscured for any reason the teacher may not be able to judge their engagement with learning or secure their participation in discussions and practical activities," it adds. |
| The head teacher of the Buckinghamshire school, who also cannot be named, said it would be very useful to have some clear guidance from the DfES. | The head teacher of the Buckinghamshire school, who also cannot be named, said it would be very useful to have some clear guidance from the DfES. |
| "It's not right that schools should have to be arguing this out case by case," she told the BBC News website. | "It's not right that schools should have to be arguing this out case by case," she told the BBC News website. |
| "Obviously there's a trade-off between schools retaining autonomy over school uniform decisions, on the other hand we will have some very clear guidance from the DfES within which to work." | "Obviously there's a trade-off between schools retaining autonomy over school uniform decisions, on the other hand we will have some very clear guidance from the DfES within which to work." |
| 'Equality' | 'Equality' |
| She said she did not regret the school's decision to fight the case. | She said she did not regret the school's decision to fight the case. |
| "We feel very strongly that this was a matter of principle, that there shouldn't be barriers between students and teachers. | |
| "We also feel the young people in our school should be educated on an equal basis and be prepared for their role as adults in a modern society in which we expect there to be equality between men and women." | "We also feel the young people in our school should be educated on an equal basis and be prepared for their role as adults in a modern society in which we expect there to be equality between men and women." |
| The Muslim Council of Britain has not yet responded to the guidance, but in a 72-page document released in February the organisation stopped short of endorsing niqabs for girls. | The Muslim Council of Britain has not yet responded to the guidance, but in a 72-page document released in February the organisation stopped short of endorsing niqabs for girls. |
| It did, however, urge schools to take into account Muslim pupils' needs to dress modestly and avoid tight-fitting or transparent garments. | It did, however, urge schools to take into account Muslim pupils' needs to dress modestly and avoid tight-fitting or transparent garments. |
| Massoud Shadjareh, chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, said successive ministers had failed to give proper guidance about schools' obligations regarding religious dress. | Massoud Shadjareh, chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, said successive ministers had failed to give proper guidance about schools' obligations regarding religious dress. |
| "To now proceed to issue guidance against Muslim communities is simply shocking," he said. | "To now proceed to issue guidance against Muslim communities is simply shocking," he said. |
| Financial hardship | Financial hardship |
| Ayshah Ishmail, a teacher at a Muslim girls' school in Preston who wears the niqab away from the classroom, told the BBC that wearing the veil promotes equality. | Ayshah Ishmail, a teacher at a Muslim girls' school in Preston who wears the niqab away from the classroom, told the BBC that wearing the veil promotes equality. |
| She said: "You're judged for who you are and not what you are, so I think there are two arguments to the whole equality issue." | She said: "You're judged for who you are and not what you are, so I think there are two arguments to the whole equality issue." |
| There were misconceptions that women who wore the veil were being oppressed, she added. | There were misconceptions that women who wore the veil were being oppressed, she added. |
| The DfES guidance also instructs schools to be sensitive to the cost implications of their choice of uniform which should be available at high street shops. | The DfES guidance also instructs schools to be sensitive to the cost implications of their choice of uniform which should be available at high street shops. |
| A recent letter to all schools from the Office of Fair Trading says they can be prosecuted for engaging in exclusive agreements with specific retailers. | A recent letter to all schools from the Office of Fair Trading says they can be prosecuted for engaging in exclusive agreements with specific retailers. |
| The guidance also reiterates schools' right to discipline pupils for not wearing the proper uniform. | The guidance also reiterates schools' right to discipline pupils for not wearing the proper uniform. |
| But they should carefully investigate the reasons behind this and be sensitive in cases of financial hardship. | But they should carefully investigate the reasons behind this and be sensitive in cases of financial hardship. |