by Albert Tait, Telegraph
National Secular Society writes to Labour-led council raising concerns about ‘compulsory’ headscarf policy at north London primary
An independent Islamic faith school that requires girls as young as seven to wear hijabs is to become state-funded.
Barnet Hill Academy, in north London, will become a voluntary-aided (VA) primary school from the start of September after approval from the council last month.
VA schools are maintained and funded by the local authority, but the governing board has a substantial influence in the running of the school, employing staff and implementing the admissions criteria.
The National Secular Society (NSS) has written to Barnet council raising concerns about its decision to grant VA status in light of the school’s uniform policy, which includes “compulsory” hijabs for girls in Year 3 and above.
Stephen Evans, chief executive of the NSS, said: “It is appalling that taxpayers are being asked to fund a school that forces girls as young as seven to wear the hijab. Women should be free to choose religious dress; young girls should not have it imposed upon them.
“State-funded schools should bring children together, not divide them by faith and, by extension, ethnicity. The council must pause the implementation of this decision and subject this proposal to proper public and democratic scrutiny.”