Ofsted to consider veil policy when rating schools

Ofsted’s chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw has instructed his inspectors to mark down institutions if they judge the wearing of the veil to be a barrier to learning and positive social interaction.

Wilshaw made the statement following Prime Minister David Cameron and the Education Secretary Nicky Morgan’s comments that schools can enforce their own rules regarding face covering.

Wilsahw said: “The Prime Minister and Secretary of State are right to give their backing to schools and other institutions which insist on removing face coverings when it makes sense to do so.

“I am concerned that some heads and principals who are trying to restrict the wearing of the full veil in certain circumstances are coming under pressure from others to relax their policy. I want to assure these leaders that they can rely on my full backing for the stance they are taking.

“I have also made clear to my inspectors that where leaders are condoning the wearing of the face veil by staff members or by pupils when this is clearly hindering communication and effective teaching, they should give consideration to judging the school as inadequate.

“I am determined to ensure that discrimination, including on the grounds of gender, has no place in our classrooms. We want our schools, whether faith schools or non-faith schools, to prepare their pupils equally for life in 21st century Britain. We need to be confident our children’s education and future prospects are not being harmed in any way.”