School asking daughter to remove small cross despite religious symbols policy

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I'm looking for some advice and thoughts!

DD is 15 and at secondary school. She has always worn a small silver cross - at primary school this was never an issue (it was a church school) Up until this point it's not been an issue at secondary school either. The cross is very small and is tucked into her shirt so you would have to be really looking for it in order to see it. She always removes it for PE etc.

Last Monday her head of year saw the cross and asked her to remove it. My daughter replied that it was her cross, and that she didn't want to. She was then approached and asked to remove it every day for the remainder of the week, with increasing threats of sanctions if she didn't comply with the schools 'no jewelry' rule. My daughter kept reiterating that this was her cross, and asked the teacher to speak with me. Finally on Friday I received an email to tell me that my daughter needed to take her cross off.

I completely understand the new jewelry rule but wonder how this sits alongside the responsibility that the school has under the equalities act 2010. In their uniform policy it states that it will 'allow pupils to wear headscarves and other religious or cultural symbols' I would interpret this to include a cross too?

My daughter wears her cross as a sign of her faith and really wants to continue to do this.

Has anyone come across this situation before? If so, what was the solution?

A cross has been found in employment tribunals to be acceptable religious symbol that doesn’t contravene uniform regulations:

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/jan/15/landmark-victory-ba-cross-work

Edited to add link to Council of Europe site (the case reached the European courts) where it makes it clear that wearing a small cross as a necklace is a normal way for a Christian to show commitment to their religion:

www.coe.int/en/web/impact-convention-human-rights/-/airline-worker-wins-fight-for-religious-freedom

Which is why OP needs to confirm with the school. Maybe they don’t allow a Sikh bracelet. Maybe they do. Maybe OP will email them back asking for confirmation of the policy and the school will come back saying actually the cross is fine. There’s no point speculating until OP quotes the uniform policy at them, and the school confirms their position.

The OP has not said other children wear jewellery for any reason?

Head coverings are surely an outward proclamation of Faith…. Therefore I don’t see any difference in wearing a cross as an outward proclamation of her faith…. As Christians there is very little else you can do to publicly affirm your faith. I would consider a cross as an item of Religious belief rather than a piece of jewellery so should not be included so the ‘no jewellery’ policy.I would stand firm in supporting my daughter in wearing this symbol.

This is not about faith, it’s about her wanting to wear jewellery!
another vote to pin the cross to her bra.
“Jesus wants her to follow the uniform policy”

A cross on a necklace is entirely legitimate as a religious symbol and the school are being discriminatory. I think the issue might be ensuring you are claiming it is a religious symbol in this context and not jewellery. I expect scarfs and hats are also not allowed, but exemptions are made for religious symbols.

I would write to head of year, then escalate to SLT, then HT, then governors. I would also provide evidence of being a practicing Christian (such as a letter from a church leader, baptism certificate, etc).

I would consider a cross as an item of Religious belief rather than a piece of jewellery so should not be included so the ‘no jewellery’ policy.

Jewellery is jewellery.

If she wants to wear a cross that's not on a piece of jewellery, she can always ask if she can wear a scarf with a cross on it.

At my school we were allowed a pin but not necklaces as they were under the ban. A small pin would be even better in some ways because people could see it and it’s a display of her faith? Let her pick out something nice.

The Council of Europe ruled that a small cross on a necklace is a normal way for a Christian to show commitment to their faith and manifest their religion:

https://www.coe.int/en/web/impact-convention-human-rights/-/airline-worker-wins-fight-for-religious-freedom

Jewellery is not always jewellery - Sikhs wear a particular bangle iirc that is an important part of their religion.

I think people should be able to wear whatever they like but I also think that there is no requirement to wear a cross if you are Christian.

Jewellery is not always jewellery - Sikhs wear a particular bangle iirc that is an important part of their religion.

We don't know if this is the case at the OP's DD's school though.

If it's a complete jewellery ban (and remember she couldn't be arsed to find out), then that discriminates against no-one.

Could she wear a head covering which has a cross pattern on it? See what they say.

That is me being facetious. But maybe ask the school what is covered by the policy and take it from there.

Would they prefer her to have a cross sculpted into her hair/scalp? Or a tattoo?

When will schools learn to be proportionate and sensible?

If she really doesn't want to flout the rules, could she wear crosses on earrings? Also they would actually be visible so would be more effective as an outward sign of her faith.

(We were allowed to wear studs at school)

https://lilyandroo.com/products/silver-tiny-cross-stud-earrings

You seem to be a bit unnecessarily rude. OP is asking for advice on how to proceed. It’s a complicated issue so it’s understandable why she would ask before speaking to the school further.

I'd do this first - what's allowed for Christians.

We had issue with cotton trousers for DS needed for his eczema and allowed under the uniform policy in style they came in - his form tutor insisted differently and kept reporting him. He refused to go in end - very unlike him - and I e-mail everyone I could at school asking how they didn't comply based on their uniform code given at start of year - and if we needed to buy different version where was 100% cotton one for his medical condtion. We got no reponse but the issue entirely went away.

TBH though how much of a fight are you willing to do here and how much will school push back. If she'd taken the cross off when head of year noticed it and put it back on a few days later whole issue would have gone away?

There is nothing complicated about asking the school for clarification.

Government guidance for employers (not schools, but I can’t see why the principle shouldn’t apply, especially as schools are public bodies with uniforms) is that religious jewellery, such as crosses, should be permitted unless they endanger health and safety.

www.gov.uk/government/news/wearing-of-christian-symbols-at-work

For example, an NHS worker lost a case for wearing a cross at work, as the item dangled and could spread germs. But an airline check-in worker won her case, as her cross didn’t affect her job.

OP’s daughter removes hers for PE (health and safety risk) so a blanket ban appears unreasonable.

Thank you- this is a good suggestion and the earrings are really lovely too!

Does the school insist that Sikhs remove their Kara?

I would suggest she comply with the rules, it's sad and they are unreasonable (IMO) but it doesn't take away from her faith. I feel for her as I used to wear a cross in my teens but those were more nuanced days I guess.

The safety argument is ridiculous but I suppose they are worried it will open the door to complaints from other pupils.

Dreadful OP. Ask them if she was in grief after losing a close relative & it gave her comfort to wear a small picture on a chain would they be so callous as to ask her to remove it. I understand the no jewelry rule but there should be appropriate exceptions such as the emotional support of a cross or memorial photo on a chain.

It isn't fair, but it's a good example of how Christianity is treated differently. For some reason this is not only tolerated, but seen as a good thing, by a lot of people who'd normally fall over themselves to accommodate others.

If you don't want to spend months challenging it, and your daughter wants something private, I carry a 'Cross in my Pocket' in my purse - just a crucifix printed on card. That would easily slip discreetly into the bottom of a pencil case or bag.

Neither of which are items of jewellery