School asking daughter to remove small cross despite religious symbols policy

[FanFckingTastic]

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?

I think it's quite well-understood that it isn't a compulsory commandment to wear a cross; but it's a very commonly worn expression of faith to many Christians. Just like headscarves for Muslims.

They may not currently have any Sikh pupils, but I can't really see them making it part of their published policy that devout Sikh children are not accepted at their school... can you?

Yep totally right !

If she doesn’t want to spend months challenging it? She hasn’t even spent 2 minutes challenging it by quoting the uniform policy at them and asking them to confirm which religious symbols are allowed and why.

It is a religious symbol. She should be able to wear it.

Has your daughter considered exploring a religious vocation or being more involved in her church?

It is not too early to chat to some clergy or other religious about ways she can follow Christ more closely, if that is her desire.

It can also bring new perspectives on inner life, service, works of mercy, and witness.

Neither are compulsory but they’re also not the same. Hijab is a way of observing faith - telling God ‘I am following you’ while a cross is a symbol of faith. It’s telling others ‘I am Christian’.

Therefore a no jewellery policy doesn’t contravene EA as there is no religious right to wearing a cross.

Happy to be corrected.

this is about wearing a cross at work not at school but might help. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/wearing-of-christian-symbols-at-work IIRC an airline employee (groundstaff) was also allowed to continue to wear a cross ....googled and yes I am right https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21025710

It's jewellery. She needs to take it off.

think I just corrected you....

You’re being a bit silly. A piece of jewellery is not a part of religious practice. I’m Jewish. I wear a Star of David necklace. It’s jewellery. It’s something I like, an expression of identity. But it isn’t part of my religious practice as a Jew. Now if my employer said I wasn’t allowed to fast on Yom Kippur, that’s impeding on my right to practice my religion. But wearing jewellery is simply a fashion choice.

If the school has rules about jewellery, you follow the rules about jewellery and you find better ways to support your dd in her spiritual practices. Does she take time out in the day for prayer and meditation? Regular charity work? Acts of kindness? That’s the stuff I’d be focused on if she wants to live a Christian life.

You did, as did others before me (I started writing a post and got sidetracked). Thanks for the info!

I would not remove it, under any circumstances, and approach the Free Speech Union or a solicitor about it if they insist.

No, OP is not being silly. You're Jewish, so I hope no one outside of your faith is telling you what deeds you need to focus on, to live a Jewish life.

Obviously being a Christian she is wrong, why are you surprised? Tell her to wear a scarf and say she's converted,

Oh for goodness sake. Just comply with the no jewellery policy and stop making this out to be about discrimination.

You’re being very naive if you can’t see it is discrimination

That’s ridiculous of the school. My (non-church) school also had a jewellery ban but a small cross was the one exception.

As for the posters saying she should get a reference from the vicar or sarcastically suggesting she should start deepening her faith, all that is irrelevant. This girl wants to express her faith by wearing a cross. Exactly how keen she is and what her religious practices are, is neither here nor there.

As as Christian, I can confirm that no such requirement exists.

Well I have no idea and nor do you.

But more importantly, the OP doesn't either 🤷‍♂️

Have you tried the Daily Mail or GB News to help you with this.

I've no doubt that's next on the OP's agenda.

Again, before asking the school to clarify the policy...

Yes, she's refused to take it off every time a teacher has told her to. She's not compliant at all.

You don't speak for all of us.

How do yous know that?