Union attacks Ofsted over hijab stance
NUT vows to challenge schools inspector for ‘going beyond remit’ over head covering
‘Our worry is that instead of consultation, we will find schools saying they are going to ban the hijab’
SCHOOLGIRLS must be allowed to wear hijabs, the country’s biggest teaching union has said, as it launches an attack on Ofsted.
Amanda Spielman, the chief inspector of schools, was criticised by teachers for her views on young girls wearing the hijab in the classroom.
She is accused of overstepping the mark for comments relating to the head covering, including suggesting that inspectors will speak to young girls wearing it about why they do so.
The executive committee of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) has put forward a motion, which will be debated at its annual conference this weekend, arguing that Ms Spielman’s stance on the hijab should be “robustly challenged”.
It adds that new guidance should be issued to schools on developing uniform policies.
Ms Spielman has previously suggested that the Government must step in to set policies on hijabs in schools.’ saying it was “worrying” that head teachers can be “bullied” by campaigners into changing uniform policies.
Her comments came after she threw her weight behind the head of an east London primary school who attempted to ban pupils under the age of eight from wearing hijabs.
Neena Lall was later forced into reversing the ban at St Stephen’s School in Newnham after an angry backlash from activists who accused her of Islamophobia. She later told MPS that the events at St Stephen’s School set a “dangerous precedent”, since young girls wearing the hijab is a “cultural preference” rather than a religious dictate.
Speaking ahead of the debate, NUT general secretary Kevin Courtney said he believes “it is a problem that Amanda Spielman, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, speaks out on this in a way which I think is frankly very political”.
Mr Courtney said that there is concern about the impact of Ofsted discussing the issue of the hijab.
“People feel so much pressure by Ofsted, our worry is that instead of consultation we will find schools saying, ‘We are going to ban the hijab’,” he said. “And we think that would be very damaging to community relations. It’s not a sensible place to go, so our guidance will be about how you have dialogue, respectful dialogue, and dialogue based on love for one another.”
Mr Courtney said he believes that Ms Spielman overstepped the mark by discussing hijabs in schools, adding: “I think this goes beyond the remit that Ofsted should have.”
The union’s resolution says that statements from Ms Spielman “go beyond the remit of Ofsted” and that there is no evidence that certain clothing has an impact on a child’s learning or achievement.
An Ofsted spokesperson said: “There’s nothing political about ensuring that schools and parents aren’t being subject to undue pressure by national or community campaign groups. Head teachers need to be able to take uniform decisions on the basis of safeguarding or community cohesion concerns, and Ofsted will always support them in doing that.”