Comments by Ofsted chief inspector, Amanda Spielman, about young girls wearing the hijab in primary schools risk provoking physical attacks on Muslim women and girls, according to a motion proposed by the executive of England’s largest teaching union.
In November Ms Spielman said her inspectors would speak to young girls wearing hijabs in primary schools to “ascertain why they do so in school”.
She also publicly supported the head of an east London primary school which banned the hijab for younger pupils. The ban was later removed following concern from the local community, but the school received official backing from Ofsted.
The annual conference of the NUT section of the National Education Union in Brighton will debate the issue in a priority motion, published this morning.
It says Ms Spielman’s comments “go beyond the remit of Ofsted. The motion states there is “no evidence” that particular clothing has an impact on a child’s learning, and says the chief inspector’s comments “have ramifications beyond the school gates”.
It adds: “These statements could have a negative impact on local communities and lead to further marginalisation of, and increased physical and verbal attacks on, Muslim girls and Muslim women.”
The motion calls for the union to reissue its guidance to schools on how to develop a dress code policy, and “provide resources to support NEU members to collectively challenge unfair targeting or inappropriate dress codes in their workplaces”.
NEU joint general secretary Kevin Courtney told a press conference today that Ms Spielman’s words were “frankly very political”, using the phrase “muscular liberalism” that had been used by former prime minister David Cameron.
He said he was worried that fear of Ofsted could lead to some schools deciding to ban pupils wearing the hijab.
He added that some of the union’s Muslim members had reported that they worried whether they should stop wearing the hijab at work, and male teachers feeling “intimidated” about wearing a beard in accordance with their beliefs.
“People feel so much pressure from Ofsted , our worry is that instead of consultation we will find schools saying ‘we will ban the hijab’, and we think that will be very damaging to community relations,” Mr Courtney said. “It is not a sensible place to go.
“Our guidance will be about how you have dialogue and respectful dialogue and dialogue based on love for one another.”
Asked whether the union had noticed an effect since Ms Spielman made her comments, Mr Courtney said: “When we talk to our members who are of the Muslim faith we find teachers who will tell us that they feel maybe they should not wear the hijab even though they have worn it their whole lives through. They find it’s difficult to go into a school with a hijab.
“Some male Muslim teachers report they feel very intimidated to grow their beard in the way that they think aligns with their faith, so there is a climate where people feel less able to express their faith and that is a very bad thing for our society.”
An Ofsted spokesperson said: “The NEU’s comments are disappointing. 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.”
