Pimlico Academy headmaster backs down

[DeeCeeCherry]

www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/pimlico-academy-headteacher-students-protest-racist-uniform-b927281.html

Particularly in view of the useless Race Report, this is good news. & a signal to racists that No, their voices are not the most important actually.

Headmaster Daniel Smith had put rules in place regarding wearing of Hijab, banned Afro hairstyles, would not commemorate Black History Month, and flew Union Jack flag at school.

Well done to pupils who stood up for their rights, and to the Teachers that supported them.

Right wing government and media really is deluding fascist mindsets into feeling they have the power to do as they please. He isn't fit to teach at a multi-cultural school

Hopefully there's an investigation and he is removed from post.

Even if the "It's cancel culture!!Wokes!! Where's the free speech!! crew would go into overdrive

But for now - good result

Well done to those kids!

It's crazy that the Headteacher would have ever thought this was a good set of rules to impose, when 75% of his pupils are non-white.

I'm glad the DC stood up to him with their sit-down protest, it has been so effective 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

I agree, good news, but i would add this head should not be in charge of ANY school regardless of the make up of the pupils. All pupils deserve a Black History Month.

Well done to those amazing kids!!! I honestly can't believe his gall, what was he thinking? I'm glad these children know that they can and should stand up to what is right!

I wonder how many future leaders were created by this experience! I'm so proud of those children and I hope that one of them will be the principal in 20 years time.

Good! So proud of these children for not rolling over and taking matters into their own hands. They'll be in the workplace in the next 5-10 years and going to be instrumental in shaking things up.

I don’t see why having school uniform hijab is an issue tbh.

There is always one...

@Thebestposter

I don’t see why having school uniform hijab is an issue tbh.

Exactly, my daughters school has a uniform standard hijab that they can wear.

In that article it seemed that if girls were wearing the hijab they needed to have “all” of their hair covered. So again away of stopping self expression.
Some of our students prefer a looser style, that means their hair is invariably showing at some point. Some remove them completely for games, including mixed games. Entirely their choice, entirely not our place as staff to police them.

Very pleased with the outcome, a great achievement for the pupils who should be very proud of themselves.
My friend's childrens school (outside London) has recently introduced an inclusive hair policy which states that all types of "afro" hair style is acceptable, including locs and du rags!
This is how it should be going forward - as long as children are learning, let them be as natural to themselves as possible.

The point about the hijabs was that in the sixth form, girls could wear 'any colour' clothing but the hijab had to be in uniform colours (black or a dark colour iirc).

I am afraid Mr Smith is rather typical of the young leaders passed around these London MATs : degree from top university/ fancy postgrads, promoted beyond his own incompetence almost immediately so little to no chalkface experience. All these school have a one size fits all approach to discipline and rules. Unless someone genuinely mature and inspirational drives them (and reacts and responds to feedback and local variety), they fall flat . This is not the first MAT school which has top down imposed rules and ,sadly, it won't be the last. What is sad to see is how many other teachers and leaders are rallying around Mr Smith despite the fact that he has clearly massively mishandled the situation.

@BigSkyLife

In that article it seemed that if girls were wearing the hijab they needed to have “all” of their hair covered. So again away of stopping self expression. Some of our students prefer a looser style, that means their hair is invariably showing at some point. Some remove them completely for games, including mixed games. Entirely their choice, entirely not our place as staff to police them.

Oh I see. Thought it was just any head coverings should be x uniform colour

BigSkyLife
In that article it seemed that if girls were wearing the hijab they needed to have “all” of their hair covered. So again away of stopping self expression*
Some of our students prefer a looser style, that means their hair is invariably showing at some point. Some remove them completely for games, including mixed games. Entirely their choice, entirely not our place as staff to police them

^This.

The culturally unaware and culturally uneducated would of course assume there's some kind of "standard' Hijab and standard way of wearing.

It's a good sign that there was a vote of no confidence against that headteacher and his racist, prejudiced ego.

He really has failed that school in many ways.

Now he and his ilk know it's not all about them and their fascist mindsets

Good on those kids for speaking out and fighting back. He sounds absolutely clueless.

I don't understand how he could have thought these were good ideas in the first place. He doesn't live in a vacuum, these have been issues elsewhere.

Does the board of trustees or senior leadership team reflect the diversity of the area?

The governing body is led by Sir John Nash, ex Tory minister and his wife, Lady Caroline. It is she who appears to have rewritten the history teaching schemes.

The started up the Academy Trust : Futures Academy.

www.pimlico.futureacademies.org/page/?title=Governing+Body&pid=18

The SLT and the governing body do not remotely reflect the diverse nature of its community, no. They have largely come through the same routes on education. I think quite a few left when Smith was appointed so they are quite a new team.