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.

interesting, did the Muslim school insist on all girls wearing headscarf?

@Soontobe60 I don't disagree as she wore it from very young & I always understood that they were worn post puberty. It was always a big trailing scarf and looked cumbersome as opposed to the more sporty / less volume hijabs. Maybe it was her choice too. I wouldn't really be able to say. The other DC never commented much except that she also wasn't allowed to attend parties etc

There are now sports headcoverings which mean that children can take part in more safely so I don't think that should be a reason. A requirement to stay within uniform colours would be reasonable.

I really hope schools won't allow poor primary aged children to be forced into religious clothing. If the family doesn't have sense to see it is too early, the school needs to have the sense instead.

I have never come across a private school that doesn't allow a hijab. But they could if they wanted to. State schools couldn't.

having the head covered in itself is not an issue, but there are head and body coverings that allow full participation in education, and those that don't.

Think of flames, cookery, science, workshop tools, machinery in art and DT, drama, sport, instruments, etc. Students being unable to participate education was what lead to the ban in schools I was in in the past.

OP, I empathise. A lot of schools say 'we welcome all religions' but they don't spend any time thinking about what that means in practice. Some have told me that if my DC go there they must attend church services at Christmas, Easter, etc. (non-faith schools, before anyone asks). However, this type of active participation isnt allowed in my faith. I've asked if there's a designated prayer space, and they say 'I think so, not sure, we'll find out, your DCs can request this.' All of which tells me they haven't thought about the different needs of different religious groups.

I'd be interested to know why this school is saying no to head coverings. As a PP said it does amount to indirect discrimination. In any case you should probably avoid it as your child might end up feeling uncomfortable as the only one wearing a head covering.

I'd take the view that the school isn't the right fit if they've not thought about these basic things.

What if it isn’t a hijab and is a Sikh turban worn by a boy? I wonder if @ZiriForGood would feel the same way. Or the Jewish kippah which several classmates of my children wear.

I do feel very similarly about all of them, thought admittedly I do see the hijab and turban as the worse one, for having the most material.

I believe people should be free to choose religion (or not) as adults and while I understand parents want to present their faith to their children and bring them up with their values, there should be some limits (I don't agree with cultural/religious circumcisions, religious clothing on primary school children, or refusing medical care. )

And seeing that little boys in their culture are not similarly encumbered. What message does that give about what your culture/faith thinks of you as a young girl.

The absolute disrespect and ignorance that is displayed any time a Muslim posts is disgusting. The same vitriol is not directed towards Sikhs or Jews. The OP wasn't asking for opinions on hijab. She asked a perfectly reasonable question about religious clothing in a particular school's uniform policy. People should either offer helpful advice or scroll on.

Thanks to all those with helpful advice. For the comments here about head coverings in a primary setting - I had clarified earlier it’s for when my child is an adolescent and may want to express their religious identity but they would be in this independent school from primary until sixth form potentially so admittedly I should have put it under a different topic - nevertheless simply reading my earlier post should have stopped some pointless comments . Thanks for the helpful notes most people have given. I’ll be meeting the chair of the trustees in a few weeks so it’s helpful to know where they might be coming from but I don’t really think there’s any reasonable justification at this point, so if they keep to it it’s not the school for us . For clarity, I am speaking to them about all religious head coverings - my child may never wear it which I’m perfectly fine with but that’s not the point - It’s about inclusion and the option if they want to at some point.

I see plenty of little girls with headscarves in my neighbourhood, they are running about and playing and don't seem inhibited in the slightest
I'm guessing all their mums manage to cook and go about daily life without problems also
I'm more worried when I see women and girls in ridiculous crippling high heels

An independent school will declare its ethos. My DDs went to a Methodist school. They welcomed other religions and had both Jewish and Muslim pupils but had their uniform rules which were clear. There were Muslim girls but their parents wore Western clothes whilst in the uk. So did the girls. Did that make them less Muslim? They wanted a “liberal” education and life for their DDs whilst here so chose a school that facilitated their beliefs.

I don’t see why schools that are independent cannot maintain their uniform for everyone. If parents don’t like it, there are other schools. State ones for a start. Just a visit to a school will show you the ethos but some religions are hugely one direction. They don’t accept what others want. Eg me not covering my head in some places. So maybe accept others want DDs head uncovered? That in fact the same uniform is including everyone and personal statements aren’t necessary at school. Upholding the school ethos could be more important to them, and not having division between pupils, especially as religious conflict is rife. . Many parents are clearly happy to accept the uniform of the school they use without complaint. Parents have choices.

I don’t think women wearing high heels is an equivalent comparator. I can’t think of any religion that tell women to wear high heels once they reach puberty for ‘modesty’ reasons.

In Chapter 33, verse 60 of the Holy Qur’an Allah says :
‘O Prophet! tell your wives and your daughters, and the women of the believers, that they should pull down upon them of their outer cloaks from their heads over their faces. That is more likely that they may thus be recognised and not molested. And Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful.’

It’s the western equivalent of telling women not to wear short skirts or revealing clothing so men won’t rape them.

@SAH86

There's plenty of schools that do allow religious head coverings, and even some schools that they are compulsory (and technically they do take youngsters of all faiths, you adhere to the uniform whatever your faith). You can always change schools if you decide you want a Muslim ethos school

@UmmH

At the girls independent school I looked at all wore the same uniform, all religions, no exceptions. This wasn't directed at any other religion in particular, it was a Church of England school.

High heels isn't a valid comparison. You don't get 10 year old girls wearing them every day for religious reasons.
I've taught in state schools for many years, the hijab has been very common for decades now and is never an issue, nor does it impede learning.

scarves of any sort aren’t really safe in labs (Bunsen) or dt rooms. Many schools have the boys take their ties off for dt due to the risks with machinery.

Also this school is in Bucks. So not that many to look at in one area of Bucks!

We just ask them to clip the hijab out of the way or tuck the ends into their jumper.
They tend to do it automatically and it's never a problem.

Independent schools that don’t allow variation from the uniform don’t allow them. It’s all about respecting the schools rules and not being different on grounds of religion.

Their rationale is probably along the lines of

1. Gender Inclusivity. They don't want any particular gender to feel excluded by wearing a head covering that members of the opposite sex clearly don't and are under no obligation to do so, so they do not want to mark out one gender as in some way having more obligations to cover up or dress a certain way than the other.

2. Religious inclusivity. They don't want children to mark themselves out as different from each other in such an obvious and unavoidable to ignore way as by wearing different clothing. The same way political slogans would not be allowed to avoid tensions between students, despite the fact that different political views are obviously allowed. You can hold a different belief so long as you aren't proclaiming it to all and sundry in something as clear as your clothing, which marks children out as different from each other.

3. We are an independent school therefore we can set our uniform policy as we see fit. If you disagree with it you have the freedom and choice not to send your child here. We do not have to conform to your beliefs of which variations to the uniform policy should be allowed. Just as you do not have to send your child here.

All schools that have uniforms care more about how children look than how they feel.