Girls as young as four are being “forced to wear the hijab” as part of approved school uniform in state-funded Islamic schools, campaigners have told ministers.
According to research by the National Secular Society, the hijab appears to be compulsory in eight state-funded Islamic schools in England, including three primary schools.
A further 51 private Islamic schools of the 176 surveyed by the society also require the headscarf to be worn by female pupils. Eighteen schools said wearing the head covering was optional.
One school says on its website that “the face must be covered outside the school” (as well as in class).
Another, in Bradford, says: “It is very important that the uniform is loose fitting and modest and that the hijab is fitted closely to the head. The uniform is compulsory.”
The research has been sent to Justine Greening, the education secretary, with a letter asking if school inspectors can “ensure girls from Muslim backgrounds are supported to have free choices, rather than having so-called ‘modesty’ codes imposed on them”.
The letter describes the practice of requiring young girls to wear the hijab as “illiberal and repressive”.
It says: “No child should be obliged to wear the hijab or any other article of religious clothing while at school.”
It is signed by several Muslim women activists including the journalist and author Yasmin Alibhai-Brown and Amina Lone, a former Labour parliamentary candidate.
Campaigners argue that the hijab’s inclusion as an optional item of uniform encourages the sexualisation of children because it is worn from puberty as a sign of modesty in front of men.
Last month a survey by The Sunday Times revealed that nearly a fifth (18%) of 800 state primary schools, including Church of England primaries, in 11 regions of England now list the hijab as part of their uniform policy, mostly as an optional item.
Ofsted inspectors are investigating whether head teachers have come under pressure from parents or religious leaders.
The Department for Education said: “Uniform policies are a matter for the individual school. If a school decided to allow a pupil to wear a burqa that would be up to the school.”