Lord Agnew of Oulton has promised to support schools against religious leaders who try to ‘intimidate or bully’ them
A minister has promised to support schools against religious leaders who try to ‘intimidate or bully’ them into dropping hijabs and fasting bans.
Lord Agnew of Oulton, the schools minister, says that ‘a culture of fear and intimidation must not be allowed to pass through the school gates’.
He also showed his support for Neena Lall, the head of St Stephen’s primary school in east London, who was forced to back down over plans to ban young pupils from wearing the hijab in class.
A campaign, organised by parents and even councillors, likening Ms Lall to Hitler, had been launched against the head teacher, the minister told The Times.
Hence he felt it was his duty to ensure parents, local residents and religious leaders, understood that head teachers were ultimately in control of school rules and that any criticism should be offered respectfully.
‘They are completely within their right to make decisions on how to run their schools…and we back their right to do so,’ he added.
‘We must not allow a culture of fear and intimidation to pass through the school gates. What example do we set to the next generation if we fail to show tolerance and respect in how we engage in these debates?’
St Stephen’s primary school in east London (pictured), hit the headlines earlier this month after it emerged teachers planned to block pupils aged under eight from wearing the hijab in the classroom
Previously, the head of Ofsted had also backed the head teacher, having warned that religious extremists are using schools to ‘indoctrinate’ the mind of youngsters and narrow their horizons.
Amanda Spielman said strict parents and religious community leaders are using classrooms as a way of spreading their beliefs on the ‘impressionable’ minds of children.
Religious extremists are using schools to ‘indoctrinate’ the mind of youngsters and narrow their horizons, the head of Ofsted Amanda Spielman warned
She also added that schools should not assume that the ‘most conservative voices’ of a particular faith group speak for everyone, and that they must not be afraid to ‘call out’ any practices that they feel could have a negative impact on young people.
Head teachers who face backlash over their decisions have called on the government to do more to protect them from intimidation.
Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson, who was targeted during the alleged ‘Trojan Horse plots’ in Birmingham – where Islamist groups allegedly tried to influence classroom teachings, will be meeting with Ms Spielman to discuss what action can be taken against extremism in schools.
The head at Anderton Park primary school in Birmingham, was sent anonymous death threats and was once faced with a dead dog hanging from the railings outside her school.
After seeing the campaigns of harassment against Ms Lall, the head teacher said it is clear the problem has not gone away and as such feels there needs to be a ‘law which says you cannot harass and intimidate head teachers’.