Alarm over primary school hijabs
THOUSANDS of state primary schools are causing “growing concern” by allowing girls as young as five to wear hijabs.
The Muslim religious headscarf is part of approved optional school uniform across the country, says a newspaper survey. Opponents claim it creates divisions in the classroom and is sexualising because it is traditionally not worn until puberty.
Ofsted is investigating if parents or religious leaders have placed pressure on head teachers over uniform policies. A senior Ofsted source said: “There is growing concern about the hijab appearing in a primary school uniform list.”
Nearly a fifth of 800 primary schools list the hijab as part of their uniform, the survey said.