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.

Excellent post, @supercalie.

You say you've seen other independent schools who allow it. Send your child there? Independent schools can set their policy as they see fit. Not sure what the issue is

I hate school uniform, but have given up making that case - the British seem utterly wedded to them.

some schools do a better job of considering child comfort, though - ensuring the basic uniform is comfortable, providing options that are gender neutral and sensory friendly, and ensuring they are weather appropriate. Dc first school was awful - super strict about reception age children having their top buttons done, for example, with cuts and materials that weren’t all that comfortable/ didn’t allow for free movement. Their current school is much better to the point my ND (with accompanying sensory issues) has taken to sleeping in her uniform in order to save herself the effort of getting dressed in the morning.

i would prefer no uniform, but if we must then it should be a selection of items that’s fit for purpose and a policy that is flexible for different needs.

I said I wasn't talking about faith schools.

Except that independent schoolscare not exempt from the Equalities Act.

How come so many schools say no earrings for safety then? It's so inconsistent

Everyone is equal. They all wear the same uniform. If you don’t like that, choose a different school. Independent schools choose pupils. Parents agree to their rules and so do dc. That’s what they have chosen. I think it’s rather rude to get a school to change when presumably everyone there is happy?

There are other options. How far does “equality” go? Religions don’t trump each other in terms of what is worn at school.

Honestly, this school isn't the school for you. This will be the first problem of many.

The Equalities Act does not require everyone to be the same. If everyone was the same, there'd be no need for such an act. Its purpose is to safeguard protected characteristics, of which race and religion are a part.

If it broke the equalities act I'm assuming that wouldn't form part of the rationale of the school for having the rule.

The OP asked what the rationale of the school might be, not if it was fair or just or broke any rules.

Has your comment provided her with any insight?

I would hazard a guess that a school which didn't allow religious headscarves would be doing so in order to take a stand for the freedom of the children in their care assuming that no child would freely choose it without cultural pressure to conform e.g. being constantly told that nice and good girls will wear it and only those with lax moral standards would choose not to, such that the "choice" is no choice at all. There is no obligation to choose such a school.

There are many many schools that do allow headscarves even for 5 year olds. Each school can set it's own policy and I think it's rather inappropriate to try and make this school change its policy for you rather than choosing a school that has policies you are happy with.

Makes me laugh all the people who flap about head coverings, but have no problem with girls wearing school skirts that barely cover their arses. Based on what I see daily, that's a much bigger issue.

To all those saying they have a right to set their own policies and how rude and inappropriate of OP to question it:

if a school had a racist admissions policy would that be OK because 'everyone there is happy with it?' Or is it just Muslims you think should put up and shut up? On another thread a poster asked a school if there were any black kids there and the reply was that the diplomats' children live too far away and those are the only ones they'd consider taking. But that's OK, their school their rules. The statutory policies that ALL schools are required to have and make public don't apply to them? 🤷

Every parent goes to an open day with a list of questions relevant to them and their children. The staff should be able to answer them fully, and find out if they're not sure. No parent who's taken the trouble to attend wants to be fobbed off with insubstantial answers.

Again, the OP asked for insight into what the school's rationale was for making the rules to help equip her when she's facing the school board.

She didn't ask is the policy racist, religiously intolerant, breaking the equality act or anything else.

When have you actually answered her question?

You just comment on other people's answers that actually try to answer the original question without offering any insight on her question whatsoever.

@UmmH
Questions not asked by the OP:

What do you think of this school's uniform policy?
Do you agree with this uniform policy?
If you made this policy, what would your rationale be?
Why do you think this policy is or isn't a bad idea?
What's your personal opinion on head coverings in schools?

Don't jump on other people's answers as if those are the questions they were answering. They're not. Those questions were not asked. The question that was what is the school's possible rationale as I need help when I go to discuss it with them.

If someone asks why Russia invaded Ukraine, the answers doesn't make that person an expansionist warmonger. It makes them someone who is thinking about that the answer to the question is.

Turbans and kippahs aren’t worn for a child’s modesty, there is no shielding of beauty involved. The Hijab has a distinct purpose so it is different. I live in the ME and it is extremely rare to see a pre-pubescent girl wearing a headscarf, very much adopted at puberty, it’s not really seen as appropriate before then. It’s more of a conservative south-asian thing where I am. I haven’t been to saudi though so can’t speak for whats normal there.

Regardless, OP’s DD may choose to wear a hijab at a future point when she considers it to be the appropriate time and schools should have clear policies on that. I expect it just hasn’t come up. But it is quite hard to explain why you may allow some expressions of faith but not others. Maybe it’s best to ask what children of other faiths are permitted. So for example can a sikh child wear a kara (iron bangle) or a turban, kippahs, jewellery with the cross on it etc.

This is what the Government advises state schools to consider. Note the case law in the last sentence.

@supercalie I only quoted you once and i didn't challenge anything you said so stop centering yourself. Likewise I haven"t challenged any of the more Islamophobic posts because I'm not going to waste my time arguing with people who've already made up their minds.

You say what you want to say and I say what I want to say, and it's for the OP to decide which comments are useful. When meeting with the school governors she may well need to make them aware of how the Equalities Act relates to race and religion. She's not just going to sit there passively while they explain their rationale. In a non-diverse area they likely haven't considered it deeply if at all. Schools in more diverse areas tend to be quite proactive in how they make families of different religions feel welcome. That's all anyone wants.

She also will need to read the Government advice as posted above. Look at the legal cases too. As this is an independent school, they don’t have to offer the DD a place. It’s entirely their choice. Unlike state schools where admissions law is paramount.

WHY do you NEED your child to cover her hair OP ? What is it that fundamentally makes this necessary ?

I'm sorry but to me this feels like buying in to misogyny...

Honestly I am not trying to diss your religion. But honestly are you thinking that a good Muslim women can't be do with her hair on show ? What is 'cultural' and what are your basic beliefs are very different...

maybe, just maybe, a child might decide for themselves that they want to wear a garment/jewellery that indicates their faith

Which of course they can - just not in school. I’m awaiting an update on the meeting.

Yes, but there is enormous pressure ( not religious but societal) on girls to dress and look a certain way. Look at the rise in cosmetic surgery, diet drugs, the rise in related mental health disorders, like out of control anxiety.

There is a private school near me that does not allow any religious dress or symbols at all. I know that they have been challenged in the past,and won, but I don’t know the details. I could see if I can find out @SAH86?