Faith school where women are banned from wearing trousers becomes state funded

[ArabellaSaurus]

https://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/09/faith-school-which-bans-women-wearing-trousers-becomes-state-funded

'The National Secular Society has expressed alarm that a London faith school which bans women from wearing trousers and penalises families who attend non-kosher restaurants will now be funded by the state.
Nancy Reuben Primary School re-opened as a voluntary aided (VA) state school this month, after operating as an independent school for 26 years. Its decision to join the state sector follows the Government's move to charge VAT on independent school fees.'

'Women may not wear trousers, mini skirts, shorts, low necklines or sleeveless tops
The school's dress code for parents and visitors says men "must have their head covered at all times" and women "must wear skirts of knee length (a maximum of 2" above is acceptable)". It says trousers "may not be worn" by women.
Additionally, women must cover their underarms and may not wear cap sleeves. Women may not wear clothes with necklines lower than "4 fingers from the collar bone" either "in front or back of the garment".
Trousers are permitted for aupairs and nannies but they may not wear mini skirts, shorts, plunging necklines or sleeveless tops.'

How would it be enforced? Could a state school actually expel a student because a mum wore jeans to pick up?

I don't think Jewish schools are the harshest but imo any dress code like that which restricts girls & women on the basis of 'modesty' is, and should not be state-funded.

It is not entirely up to them. They are a school providing services to the public. The discrimination they are allowed to engage in because they are a religious school is quite limited and does not give them free reign to ignore the equality Act.

This was the case when they were a private, fee paying school too, but oversight and the extent to which people are prepared (or even want) to stand up against such discrimination when they have paid to go there and can be asked to leave pretty easily is more limited.

Once tax payer money is involved, there tends to be far more sunlight. The Department of Education should have reviewed the school's policies before granting VA status, but I suspect they limit that to things like the admission policy, not all the policies the school has. The EHRC should be able to order the school to amend any discriminatory policies. Maybe we (or, at least, feminists on this board) should write to them.

I don't see the problem, it's a school for Jewish kids and they and their families will be completely used to these guidelines. If you aren't Jewish you wouldn't chose this school anyway so it won't affect you. If you don't want to wear modest clothing to work then don't apply for a job here. I don't understand or agree with the trouser thing but again if it bothered you that much you wouldn't send your kids there.
My daughter went to a secondary school which wasn't affiliated to any religion and their rules for sixth form were no vests or off the shoulder tops. A lot of sixth forms specify suits these days which is completely outdated.
It isn't as though it's a campaign to get all schools to follow suit.

It’s not enforceable.

as they tacitly accept by saying that Nannies and au pairs can wear trousers.

Clever manipulation of the VAT situation.

I used to live near a Jewish primary school. I don't know the religions of all the children who attended but I do know there were lots of Muslim kids at the school as a Jewish friend had children at the school and she told me the Hebrew prize was often won by a Muslim child.

So, you think the equality act is an overreach and service providers should be allowed to disadvantage some groups if their belief system suggests it’s appropriate? And there’s also no problem with public money subsidising them doing so?

Are you aware, as a voluntary aided school, if it can not fill all its spaces with children of parents who are orthodox, they must accept other children? Some children whose parents didn’t apply might be sent there because there are no other spaces available. Should parents not be entitled to expect their children, sent for a state education as they are entitled to, won’t be taught that it is immodest for women to wear trousers?

Most religious state schools accept children of all religions, there are lots of exemptions for children in care, EHCPs, children from the forces etc, it’s not just religious criteria that apply.
If the school is excellent and a child from a non Jewish family applies and is eligible, how can their parents clothes come into it?
it’s fair enough having uniforms for children and staff, but not their parents. How does that fit in with educating a child?
If it’s receiving the benefits of the ordinary working people’s taxes, it should also serve the interests of ordinary working people.
They should welcome non Jewish kids in with open arms and start teaching them the values they hold dear, surely that’s the best way to educate the community and ease tensions.

All females are being forced to show their legs? What crazy holy book specifies this?

Just some of the things happening in Orthodox Jewish schools:

https://www.thejc.com/family-and-education/stamford-hill-chasidic-school-denies-it-uses-corporal-punishment-after-staff-recognise-document-that-advocates-e5deq33i

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/illegal-jewish-schools-department-of-education-knew-about-council-faith-school-coverup-as-thousands-of-pupils-disappeared-a6965516.html

https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/england/london-travel/hasidic-teacher-accused-of-slapping-pupils-98mhtx8rl59

https://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/2014/03/04/talmud-torah-chaim-meirim-wiznitz-school-slapping/

https://humanists.uk/2020/08/12/lack-of-engagement-from-unregistered-jewish-schools-makes-safeguarding-impossible-hackney-commissioner-tells-child-abuse-inquiry/

https://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2017/11/exclusive-most-state-jewish-schools-enforce-jewish-dress

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/aug/11/orthodox-jewish-religious-schools-unregulated-london-yeshiva

https://www.judaismhasnogender.com/posts/the-sexism-of-a-better-secular-education-for-hasidic-women

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/22/a-tumultuous-journey-from-ultra-orthodox-school-to-physics-degree

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ultraorthodox-rabbis-ban-women-from-going-to-university-in-case-they-get-dangerous-secular-knowledge-a7204171.html

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/the-truth-about-hasidic-education

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/11637718/Jewish-womens-fury-at-orthodox-ban-on-driving-in-London.html

https://s.telegraph.co.uk/graphics/projects/the-life-of-ultra-orthodox-jewish-women/index.html

https://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/22944312.stamford-hill-posters-telling-women-side-road-walk-removed/

I genuinely don’t believe in state-funded faith schools at all (but that’s a bigger issue). However if the institution is run by a faith it should be up to them to manage dress code. If it’s an orthodox Jewish school the rules fit religious dress norms. Those children would be dressed the same whether they went to Jewish school or secular school. At my daughter’s very catholic infant school the rules were no skirts for the girls, but she wanted to wear trousers anyway - no one kicked up a fuss when she did.

It’s appalling that tax money should go to institutions that discriminate so openly.

Judaism is not a proselytising faith.

Thank you for this. I am very interested in the effect of very strict religious groups on women, and this chimes with other worrying stuff I have read.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1377067914143471&id=100055208265499

Did you know that for Hasidic women, dressing modestly starts at age 3?

The other really worrying thing is that the "teachers" at the "better" girls' schools are usually ex pupils who have only been educated (in their restricted system) to aged 18. So they might have A Levels in like English and some might have Maths. Not Science and rarely other topics. Then they teach the next generation.

Certainly the tzinius (modesty) laws dp seem to be applied awfully sometimes. I don't think all are that strict though?

There's an interesting subreddit, r/exjew, where most are leaving this kind of super strict environment. The modesty rules being applied to little girls are a frequent complaint.

Little girls in my area have to wear long skirt, tights and long sleeves tops all year round so they arent tempting for the men around them.

Opposite sex siblings are discouraged from touching each other after 7 I think it is. It is really really hard-core. I dont know any Muslims oe Christians in this country living that way

That's really bad.

My feeling is that because Hasidim keep to themselves and not bother others, people tend not to intervene. Under articles I've read, people often comment that it's the parents' business and no one else's.

But whatever religion or culture is involved, people should never stand by of children are not being properly educated etc Is there no inspection of these schools?

Trousers are permitted for aupairs and nannies...

As opposed to women?

Entirely different. As I suspect you know.

Yes there is and every few years it will come up and then the wider Jewish community say that it is antisemitism to call it out and that they should focus on the Muslims.

There is also extensive benefit fraud.

https://www.thejc.com/news/chasidic-leaders-approved-scam-for-families-to-fraudulently-claim-housing-benefit-in-stamford-hill-court-told-a4229lw0

A colleague of mine was a Head at a Jewish high school and their dress code was the same as this. My local high school has banned skirts - all the students have to wear trousers. She knew before she joined and didn’t have an issue. It’s a bit like cabin crew or anyone else whose job involves wearing a uniform. My local high school has banned skirts - all the students have to wear trousers. What a fuss that created by the parents who wanted their daughters to allowed to wear skirts as short as possible! Another primary school near me has all the girls wearing summer dresses whether they want to or not. Woe betide a girl who might want to wear shorts like the boys.

Hmm...well in areas like Leceister, Bradford etc, are little Muslim girls wearing super modest stuff? I know Yasmin Alibhai Brown said she was very angry to see Shepherd's Bush Market selling hijabs for six-month-olds. Not sure how common that is though. When I was 10 I met a Muslim girl at an entrance exam who was already in hijab, but I've never seen it on anyone else so young and I don't think it's mandatory until puberty (tho could be wrong, tbf, my area has few Muslims)

Either way, imposing modesty rules on little girls like that is deeply wrong, no matter who is doing it.