The trustees of Derby’s controversial Muslim free school have confirmed they will no longer require staff and pupils to cover their hair – 25 days after the practice was revealed exclusively by the Derby Telegraph.
A letter to parents was put on the Al-Madinah School’s website as last night’s deadline for compliance with Government instructions on the issue loomed. It also published the letter it had written to staff, to inform them of the changes.
The school, which has 400 pupils at sites in Nelson Street and Friar Gate, has not been out of the headlines since it was revealed by unhappy teachers that female non-Muslim staff had to wear a hijab – Islamic scarf – and girl pupils were segregated in classes.
As free schools are only answerable to the Office for Standards in Education and the Government, an immediate Ofsted inspection was ordered by the Department for Education. But while the inspection was taking place, the school closed suddenly for three days to address safeguarding issues.
Since the inspection, for which the report is still pending, a damning letter arrived from Lord Nash, Minister for Schools, who criticised the school’s academic standards and lack of equal opportunity and demanded an action plan was drawn up by November 1.
He also required some specific areas to be addressed by yesterday, with a further deadline on other matters next Tuesday.
Lord Nash said that he wanted staff to be told they did not need to cover their hair and that this should also be publicly communicated on the school’s website.
The school’s letter to parents read: “All members of staff employed by Al-Madinah School have been notified in writing that they are not required to cover their hair, if it is contrary to their religious and cultural beliefs and values.
“In addition we would like to remind you that children are not required nor compelled by the school to cover their hair and indeed, that this is a matter of choice.”
In its letter to staff, the school said a handbook with these policies would be distributed in November.
A DfE spokeswoman said: “We have received a response from the Al-Madinah Education Trust. Any decisions made will take into account all the available evidence.”