Ofsted Official Backs Banning Hijabs for Under Eights

Senior Ofsted official Amanda Spielman is set to back the decision to ban girls under the age of eight from wearing hijabs at school when addressing Anglican clerics and educators at the Church of England conference.
This public statement from the Ofsted official comes after a discussion between parents and teachers over the ban erupted at a school in Newham.
Neena Lall, head teacher at a school in Newham, made the decision to ban girls under the age of eight from wearing hijabs as, according to Muslim teachings, their not required to do so until they reach puberty.
The decision quickly sparked a dispute with some school governors and parents who were against the decision. The rule was swiftly overturned by school governors a week after its implementation.
Spielman will back the decision and will defend leaders at school’s right to make these kind of decision and that they shouldn’t be afraid to do so because of possibly offending segments of the school community.
“Ofsted will always back heads who take tough decisions in the interests of their pupils”, Spielman is set to say. “Schools must not, in their entirely correct goal of promoting tolerance, shy away from challenging fundamentalists practice where it appears in their schools or communities”.
According to Spielman, making girls under the age of eight to wear hijabs might “narrow young people’s horrizons” and could difficult their integration into the community and cause them to be isolated.
> Naomi Round