UK schools to be downgraded for allowing 'inappropriate' wearing of veil

Chief inspector of schools says the veil is possibly stopping teachers and students from communicating effectively

School inspectors will be allowed to rate schools in UK as “inadequate” if they let pupils or staff wear full-face veils or niqabs in their classrooms, according to a policy announced by the chief inspector of schools.

Sir Michael Wilshaw, head of Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted), said he would support schools which ban “inappropriate wearing” of the veil.



“I am concerned that some heads and principals who are trying to restrict the wearing of the full veil in certain circumstances are coming under pressure from others to relax their policy. I want to assure these leaders that they can rely on my full backing for the stance they are taking,” Wilshaw said.

He added, “Where leaders are condoning the wearing of the face veil by staff members or by pupils when this is clearly hindering communication and effective teaching, they should give consideration to judging the school as inadequate.”

On Tuesday, the Department for Education (DfE) endorsed Wilshaw’s stance.

“We are pleased that heads and school leaders who choose to implement policies which restrict the wearing of the veil to support effective teaching and learning will receive Ofsted’s backing,” the DfE said.

Last week, British Prime Minister David Cameron said he would back institutions with “sensible rules” regarding Muslims wearing full-face veils. In a move to encourage greater integration of Muslim women in the country, Cameron said he would support public bodies such as courts that needed to “see someone’s face” in order to function.



Following Cameron’s remarks, Wilshaw said the veil is possibly stopping teachers and pupils from communicating effectively and that he supported any schools which prevented Muslim girls from wearing the veil “if it is stopping good communication in the classroom”.

“My inspectors say on occasions they go into classrooms where they see there are problems about communications,” Wilshaw told the BBC.

However, Muslim leaders and teaching unions have criticised Wilshaw for polarising the issue and for assaulting school autonomy.

“Ofsted need not have resorted to the megaphone of the media to show that it is flexing its muscles. We are a country that prides itself in accommodation and fair play. It is a shame that the niqab – the full-face veil that a minority of Muslim women wear – has become a polarising issue when it need not be,” the Muslim Council of Britain said.

Further, Leora Cruddas of the Association of School and College Leaders, which represents many secondary school heads, said, “We do not think that it is the role of Ofsted inspectors to judge schools on uniform policies and dress codes. Inspectors should focus on what schools achieve, rather than what people wear.”



“Schools make decisions on uniform policies and dress codes with the needs of their staff and pupils in mind and take into consideration relevant educational, welfare and equalities issues,” she added.

Moreover, Andrew Clapham, an expert on school inspection at the Nottingham Trent University school of education, said Wilshaw’s position was not supported by any research.

“There is no credible evidence base to suggest that wearing a piece of clothing on one’s head has an impact on intellectual or academic ability,” he said.

This article originally appeared on Guardian.