Ofsted chief ‘is racist on hijabs’

THE head of Ofsted has been attacked by hard-left teachers for supporting schools that want to ban the hijab. Amanda Spielman was accused of ‘naked racism’ yesterday by members of the National Education Union.

The chief inspector of schools has said she would support any head imposing a hijab ban on very young children to combat radicalism.

But yesterday, the NEU passed a resolution saying her statements go beyond Ofsted’s remit and that teachers should challenge hijab bans. Peter Smith, a member from Swindon, said Mrs Spielman was orchestrating a ‘moral panic’ in schools, adding: ‘Naked racism is being dressed up as liberalism...’

But an Ofsted spokesman hit back: ‘There’s nothing political about ensuring that schools and parents aren’t being subject to undue pressure by national or community campaign groups.’