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.'

You might be surprised at who attends. There is a Jewish school in Birmingham where 2/3 of the pupils are Muslim. The girls have to wear skirts to school.

I don't agree with state faith schools and I am concerned not just about strict dress codes but what is actually taught.

Numbers matter. The amount of Orthodox Jewish schools with rules like this are few. There are so little Jews in the uk anyway, that’s why they “get away with it”. And they’re not white. Jews aren’t white. There are many more Muslim faith schools which is why it seems to you that this is discussed while the other is “ignored”. Do you walk around London, Manchester, Luton, Birmingham and see large numbers of Orthodox Jews? Go look up how many schools like this exist in the uk. Then you’ll understand why it’s largely ignored comparatively. No need to hide behind thinly veiled racism, implying that the Jews get away with things because they’re (insert false trope)… we see you, nothing new, we get it.

Yes, but atheism is its own kind of religion with very strict 'shoulds' and 'should nots'

I'll bite.

So what are the shoulds and should nots of atheism>

The one Jewish faith school in my city is attended by children of all faiths, so long as they are supportive of its Jewish ethos. This is standards for all faith schools.

Your issue seems to be with jews and Judaism beyond any other consideration, even though they form only a very tiny percentage of the population?

You tell me!

I don't label myself in such a way...so I'm not sure what the strictures are. But people like Richard Dworkins are very dogmatic and rigid in their pronouncements. Atheists are not agnostic, are they.....they are firm in their beliefs. To my mind, any set of beliefs which is firmly adhered to and is inflexible is religious in its nature.

A teacher friend (raised Catholic) was refused a post in Catholic school because the head didnt feel her faith was strong enough. So at least some.Catholic schools require a committed Catholic faith to work there.

Oh I’m glad it’s not just me who noticed!

They tick white on the forms. White and Jewish.

As I say, you are asked questions at interview, especially if you are not a baptised roman catholic, such as myself. I was very good at responding because I essentially understand the value of a strong faith in one's life, and the role it serves in creating a unified community.

Which forms?

I very clearly said secular” not “atheist”. They are very different things. Atheism is nothing to do with moral judgements, by the way.

Any form that asks for such personal details.

The rolling back thing is interesting. I went to grammar school in the 60s. The Rabbi and Imam came on Fridays, us Catholic girls had re with a nun who was a retired teacher and priest came at the end of each half term and we had Mass in the hall. It was very integrated and we all wore school uniform, no problem. J now see girls who might be the granddaughters of my old school peers in full human, it confuses me.

I'm not sure about the Jewish community but when I was a child there were no Jewish schools but there are now.

I wish my old school was a model for the country.

That sounds lovely. Especially the festivities..
sadly most city schools wouldn't have that barn-type space but maybe they should!

I'm not sure if you'd call my school officially C of E though- we had hymns, a chaplain available to talk (though he very rarely gave assemblies) & communion services in the library once a month for those who wanted to go. But the assemblies had no prayers & we it didn't affect the curriculum at all. Or maybe that is C of E, I'm no expert! We had a boys' version which took religion much more seriously, own chapel etc. Most of our intake was non- or only vaguely religious, there wasn't any requirement to be Christian or church going etc

I definitely think some element of religion is good in schools. Hymns etc. I think you can build community in other ways but I can see how a full-on faith school makes it easier.

Makes sense that Muslim & Jewish girls would be OK with C of E. I've read Muslim students are often keen on Catholic schools if a Muslim one is unavailable.

A Jewish school where most pupils are Muslim? Isn't the whole point of a faith school that most follow the religion? I suppose not enough Jews there to fill it?

Hmm...I don't think that's accurate : how can a lack of belief be a religion?

There's no unified religion where everyone reads the holy books of Dawkins and genuflects to Hitchens etc Yes, there are weirdos like on r/atheism who almost make a cult of it, but nost atheists simply don't believe in a deity.

Hang on, so would this apply to very strict Orthodox ones too? Or nit as they're mostly private?

Again I think we go backwards. I remember a young newly qualified teacher who had a baby when she wasn't married in the 70s. She applied to a very good Catholic school, we all thought she had no chance but she got the job and I heard the school was very supportive. Tolerance seems a lost art.

I see what you mean - but Dawkins is a particular type of person, someone whose career is built around atheism is hardly a representative atheist. Plenty of atheists might be open to changing their mind but on balance decide that they don't believe in a deity based on whatever evidence they've judged from at that point.

Not sure how autocorrect turned hijab into human. That oroperly mucked up my post.

I don't think a small number should be ignored where there ARE genuine issues like poor English into teenage years etc.

I do agree that there's more focus on Muslim schools bc of the numbers, plus issues like Luftur Rahman-style manoeuvres, and even indoctrination into potential extremism in the worst cases.

@Leoari What on earth makes you think this poster would only have these views about Jewish schools?

Wait, that's a great post. What do you mean by full hijab? I thought hijab was basically headscarf- do you mean more than that? At a young age?

All state faith schools prioritise those of that faith, but will let in other pupils depending on numbers. Just like any school will have a list of priorities, usually to do with catchment, siblings, looked after children etc, but other kids can be admitted if there's space.

Private schools can admit who they like.

Jewish schools are perhaps a bit different as Jewishness is more to do with practice and community membership, as well as family background, rather than individual belief. So schools will want details of synagogue attendance and home practice, if they are trying to prioritise places, just like oversubscribed Catholic schools will want to know how often kids attend Mass etc. And some denominations of Judaism have broader definitions of who is Jewish than others- this is where JFS got in hot water a couple of decades ago.