Independent school uniform policy - religion

[SAH86]

Hi there , I was just after some advice from anyone who has experience of independent schools please. We’ve seen a number of them in and around our area in Buckinghamshire and all except one had a very accommodating approach towards religious head coverings when it comes to their uniform- one school that we really liked said they wouldn’t permit this (although they allow hats that are specified in their uniform policy). I’m meeting with the trustees to understand why they don’t allow this as they haven’t explained this so far. But I just wanted to understand what their rationale could be before I meet them if anyone has any ideas? They happen to be a faith school and on our very first tour said they are welcoming of people of all faiths and none ..so this surprised us.

Because they welcome families of all faiths and backgrounds don't mean they welcome all sort of uniform + requests.

You talk about primark schools? Which head covering is requested for girls or boys aged 4 to 11 in your religion?

Look up the word 'uniform' to find out why your dd can't dress differently from others.

Religious beliefs should be prioritised over uniform policy, and if they won’t accommodate on this point it would be a red flag for me that they aren’t as accepting as their promotional material might claim. A school that will not make reasonable adjustments for religious, sensory or other reasons is prioritising the wrong things.

And yet most schools offer a menu of options, not everyone is perfectly identical. I expect the school to make reasonable adjustments based on a child’s needs (physical, sensory, religious). A school that care more about how children look than how they feel is not a good school.

I already said most schools had an open approach to it. If you don’t have anything of substance to say next time perhaps just scroll along rather than being rude and unhelpful.

Thanks - I’m hoping it’s more about the fact it’s not been raised before as a deciding factor. And it’s more the principle of letting the child have that freedom of choice when they’re older to express their beliefs.

Assume you mean primary and I just put it in this topic because the school starts at this age but goes all the way to A Levels so yes should have probably put this in the secondary school topic as its a policy that we’re discussing for when the child is much older

A uniform head covering is perfectly feasible though? Workplaces have managed to do it, and state schools near to me have, too.

Usual practice seems to be to allow head coverings in neutral or uniform colours. This has been the case for decades. Concerning that they won't accommodate this.
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For pre-pubescent girls? Why would they wear a head covering? For ‘modesty’??

OP are head scarf banned for all ages?

Generally head scarf's are allowed for older girls, face coverings not allowed to 6th form. Most state or private schools follow this rule.

A headmaster can insist in private school no scarf at any age, just as a head can insist no long hair for boys, or dreadlocks even if the child follows Rastafarian religion.

It would be odd not to allow scarf in any school state or private for girls past puberty, but the bottom line, private schools can set their own rules, they can't discriminate against your child because of their race or religion, but they can insist how they dress and appear I'm afraid.

@paperrocksiscissors

State schools near me do not allow face coverings. In fact a state grammar was taken to court by the parents of a girl who wanted to wear a niqab and the school won. A hijab is allowed.

The independent boarding school my DDs attended makes no reference to either items. Wycombe Abbey makes no reference to a uniform policy on its web site: as far as I can see.

I have many years experience with independent schools and none disallow Hijabs. Even those that haven’t been diverse. I’d run a mile from any that do. It’s your first taste of many more problems to come.

Having a policy that does not allowing head coverings for religious reasons is indirect discrimination and so illegal unless there is reasonable justification for the policy. A reasonable justification does not include 'we like them to all look the same'. I would be incredibly wary of a school who thinks that's ok

Hey, I think as there isn’t uniform in their sixth form they would allow it then but not before that. Thanks for the input that’s helpful.

Pre-pubescent Sikh boys wear a turban/padka and it’s got nothing to do with “modesty”- so what’s your point?!

I have worked in a school which set limits on religious clothing for health and safety and for curriculum reasons. If someone is religious clothing can't do the actual subject you are trying to teach because of the clothing, there is a serious problem. In this school there was a lot of pressure from some very aggressive and threatening people, to make girls in particular wear clothing that restricted their education. To the point where the decision was made to ban all religious clothing for everyone

I can't imagine what subject can't be done safely with a headcovering

OP the fact that the most generous interpretation is that this school 'hasn't had to deal with this before' would be a massive red flag for me

a bit like when all-white schools say they don't have to think about racism because 'we don't have that sort of problem here'

None of that means they don’t have a Racism policy though. Ditto a uniform policy. All paying parents have a choice of schools. If there are red flags, there are other options.

I can't fathom any school having an issue with religious head coverings etc. My DD had a girl in her class who wore a flowing hijab from yr3/4. It always looked too big in her but that was her parents choice.

Think of all the activity she could not take part in and all the movements that were restricted!

And what about the girl’s choice?

This too. I hate having girls in the class completely covered, and knowing they are totally miserable with it

Just use another school, it's private you have a choice.

My local private school when my girls were small was c of e faith, they allowed those of other faiths or none to attend on condition they attended worship, took part in the arranged religious events and wore the strict uniform, if you didn't agree to those terms there were several other private schools including a state Muslim school and a state Hindu school. The Muslim school took those of all faiths too and everyone had to follow the uniform policy.