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Schools allowed to ban face veils Schools allowed to ban face veils
(40 minutes later)
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 issued by ministers.
In February, a 12-year-old girl failed in her High Court attempt to overturn her Buckinghamshire school's niqab ban. It says efforts must be made to accommodate religious clothing, but stresses the importance of teachers and pupils being able to make eye contact.
Ministers promised revised guidance for England taking that into consideration. It comes after a girl, aged 12, failed in her High Court bid to overturn her Buckinghamshire school's niqab ban.
It says efforts should be made to accommodate religious clothing but stresses the importance of teachers and pupils being able to make eye contact. The Islamic Human Rights Commission said the new guidance was "shocking".
It's not right that schools should have to be arguing this out case by case Head teacherVeil court case school Why Muslims wear the veil It's not right that schools should have to be arguing this out case by case Head teacherVeil court case school Why Muslims wear the veil class="" href="/1/hi/magazine/6070754.stm">Do we need to see a face?
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 'Simply shocking'
Schools need to be able to identify individual pupils in order to maintain good order and to identify intruders, it is expected to say. The guidance says schools need to be able to identify individual pupils in order to maintain good order and spot intruders.
Find out about different styles of Muslim headscarfIn graphicsFind 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 Department for Education and Skills (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 Department for Education and Skills (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."
'Simply shocking' Chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission Massoud Shadjareh said he was "dismayed" by the DfES guidance.
The Muslim Council of Britain has not yet responded to the guidance, but in February it urged schools to take into account Muslim pupils' needs to dress modestly and avoid tight-fitting or transparent garments. "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 head scarf.
Massoud Shadjareh, chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, said the DfES guidance was "simply shocking". "To now proceed to issue guidance against Muslim communities is simply shocking," he said.
And Ayshah Ishmail, a teacher at a Muslim girls' school in Preston who wears the niqab away from the classroom, told the BBC wearing the veil promoted equality. 'Equality issue'
Ayshah Ishmael, a teacher at a Muslim girls' school in Preston who wears the niqab away from the classroom, told the BBC wearing the veil promoted 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."
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 Muslim Council of Britain has already urged schools to take into account Muslim pupils' needs to dress modestly and avoid tight-fitting or transparent garments.
The guidelines reiterate the right of schools to discipline pupils for not wearing the proper uniform. The DfES said it was not ordering or advising head teachers to ban the veil, simply confirming that they have the ability to do so if they wish, so long as they carry out proper consultation.
The guidance also instructs schools to be sensitive to the cost implications of their choice of uniform which should be available at high street shops.
And it reiterates the right of schools to discipline pupils for not wearing the proper uniform.