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| Schools allowed to ban face veils | Schools allowed to ban face veils |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| It says efforts must be made to accommodate religious clothing, but stresses the importance of teachers and pupils being able to make eye contact. | It says efforts must be made to accommodate religious clothing, but stresses the importance of teachers and pupils being able to make eye contact. |
| It comes after a girl, aged 12, failed in her High Court bid to overturn her Buckinghamshire school's niqab ban. | It comes after a girl, aged 12, failed in her High Court bid to overturn her Buckinghamshire school's niqab ban. |
| The Islamic Human Rights Commission said the new guidance was "shocking". | 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 Do we need to see a face? | 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 Do we need to see a face? |
| But the Muslim Education Centre welcomed the move - saying that the veil created a "bridge of non-understanding between communities". | But the Muslim Education Centre welcomed the move - saying that the veil created a "bridge of non-understanding between communities". |
| 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. |
| 'Simply shocking' | 'Simply shocking' |
| The guidance says schools need to be able to identify individual pupils in order to maintain good order and spot intruders. | The guidance says schools need to be able to identify individual pupils in order to maintain good order and spot intruders. |
| "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. |
| Schools minister Jim Knight said: "Schools should consult parents and the wider community when setting uniform policy. | Schools minister Jim Knight said: "Schools should consult parents and the wider community when setting uniform policy. |
| "And while they should make every effort to accommodate social, religious or medical requirements of individual pupils, the needs of safety, security and effective learning in the school must always take precedence." | "And while they should make every effort to accommodate social, religious or medical requirements of individual pupils, the needs of safety, security and effective learning in the school must always take precedence." |
| 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." |
| 'Dismayed' | 'Dismayed' |
| There were divided responses from the Muslim community. | There were divided responses from the Muslim community. |
| The chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, Massoud Shadjareh, said he was "dismayed" by the DfES guidance. | The chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, Massoud Shadjareh, said he was "dismayed" by the DfES guidance. |
| "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. | "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. |
| "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. |
| But the Muslim Council of Britain's education spokesman, Tahir Alam, said that the new guidance did not "alter the position very much" and said "the vast majority of schools are able to solve these issues locally". | But the Muslim Council of Britain's education spokesman, Tahir Alam, said that the new guidance did not "alter the position very much" and said "the vast majority of schools are able to solve these issues locally". |
| Dr Tag Hargey of the Muslim Education Centre welcomed the guidance. | Dr Tag Hargey of the Muslim Education Centre welcomed the guidance. |
| "When you conceal the face, that actually not only dehumanises the person involved, but also creates a chasm, a gap, a bridge of non-understanding between communities and I think the sooner we can get rid of this veil, this face veiling, this face masking in Muslim societies across Britain, so much the better." | "When you conceal the face, that actually not only dehumanises the person involved, but also creates a chasm, a gap, a bridge of non-understanding between communities and I think the sooner we can get rid of this veil, this face veiling, this face masking in Muslim societies across Britain, so much the better." |
| 'Equality issue' | '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. | 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 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 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 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 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. |
| 'Breaches' | 'Breaches' |
| Association of School and College Leaders' general secretary Dr John Dunford said he was pleased the government is supporting school leaders in upholding school uniforms. | Association of School and College Leaders' general secretary Dr John Dunford said he was pleased the government is supporting school leaders in upholding school uniforms. |
| "Repeated and blatant breaches of uniform policy undermine the school ethos," he added. | "Repeated and blatant breaches of uniform policy undermine the school ethos," he added. |
| Education spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain Tahir Alam said the new guidelines did not alter the position, because the issue remained with governing bodies and communities to resolve. | |
| "The vast majority of schools are able to solve these issues locally, and that should continue to be the case. We have to be sensible in the way we address these issues." | "The vast majority of schools are able to solve these issues locally, and that should continue to be the case. We have to be sensible in the way we address these issues." |