Do schools have a right to set their own standards with regards to uniforms?

[speedymama]

I believe that they do and when parents choose a school, they do so knowing what the rules are. That's why I do not agree with this family trying to force the school to change its rules in order that they can get their own way.

I hope the school does not back down and I believe that any costs incurred should be paid by the family as they are the ones making the fuss.

io agree

I totally agree with you speedymama and cases like this always make me wonder what would happen if it were the other way around. Would an English girl in a musilim county and a muslim school be allowed to walk around freely in a little t-shirt and shorts??

Zephyr, I think we know the answer to that one

I'm sorry but I think that this is ridiculous. How can she communicate if her whole face is covered? She is allowed to wear a headscarf which an adequate compromise. She can cover the rest of her face as soon as she is outside the school gates. It said on the news yesterday that the school was going to back down because they can't afford the court case. So what kind of precedent is that setting?

zephry - that would be different though - there's nothing religious about wanting to wear shorts and T-shirt.....the niqab is related to their religion.

And unlike someone wearing revealing clothes in a Muslim country it's NOT culturally offensive to cover oneself completely in this country.

Its discriminatory. That girl is not going to be hurting anyone.

I understand what you are saying but I mean from the point of view of if we go to a muslim country, on holiday for example, before we go we are told that we have to repsect the rules/religion/whatever of that country. No if's no but's. If you don't comply you are in trouble! So why shoul;dn't they conform to the rules of the school??

can't see why, if she wants to wear it, she shouldn't be allowed to (as long as it's not unsafe).

Out of interest, what happens to the full face covering veil when they do PE? Do they still keep it on?

I would have grave reservation is letting a child in full face veil do practicals for H and S reasons.

They can't see properly, as it will affect their peripheral vision. It is a fire hazard when useing bunsens etc.

An ordinary veil is a different matter, as it can be tied back and doesn't affect vision.

And a full lenth robe is a horrific trip and fall hazard in a lab

That's very true justustwo.

That may be the case, but a veil is not offensive in this country as Fanny wisely pointed out. The school needs to stop trying to be so nit picky.

yes I agree mb - safety is one reason I could fully understand why it wouldn't be allowed

Whats dangerous about it really? She isn't a toddler.

As D&T teacher, would also be very very concerned about H&S with this.
e.g tesing fabrics for flammability
getting stuck or dragged into sewing machine
use of lathes, drills etc.

Very dangerous.

I thought to cover up completely is not compulsive in the religion but a choice?

I can see the Health and Safety issues though, that mb mentiones.

How many times in the news do you hear of pupils being sent home for not wearing the correct uniform or having unusual hairstyles etc? here , here . I don't recall parents taking the schools to court, wasting thousands of pounds of taxpayers money just so that they can get their way.

Wearing the niqab is not a religious requirement, dressing modestly is (how this is interpreted is a different matter). I believe this is being used as political tool by the more extreme followers of Islam who are not interested in integrating.

This has no place in school, children should be able to see each other in order to play, learn how to read body language, facial expressions etc. Religious extremism should be kept out of schools. That's why I worry about the agenda of creationists in schools but that is a separate thread.

The French have got it spot on with this and we should do the same.

I would say that a veil is culturally offensive in this country, given that so many people are offended by it - the cultural norm is to have one's face uncovered and many people are made uneasy by not being able to see faces.

If a grown woman wants to wear a veil, she can but why on earth does a 12 year old child need to have her face covered?

speedymama, what do you mean by the french got it right...just curious....

Actually, the full story is that both her older sisters attended this school and were allowed to wear the niquab. And, when she started in September, she was allowed, but the school has recently changed its uniform policy.

Leaving aside any questions regarding the appropriateness of this form of dress when attending school, it does seem that the school has moved the goalposts.

Religious extremeism???? The girl just wants to wear a veil!

When I was at school the muslim girls wore headscarves but never had their faces covered. I was sent home all the time for having the wrong uniform. Ok, so not religious but if it's the rules of the school then it's the rules!

I think, personally, that it is becoming such an issue because there is so much pressure on everyone at the moment to have to accept everything in this country and it is getting ridiculously OTT.