21 January 2018

St Stephen’s Newham backs down on hijab ban after online abuse

MPs and education experts rallied behind the best primary school in England yesterday after it came under such criticism that it reversed its ban on children under eight wearing hijabs.

Robert Halfon, chairman of the education select committee, said it was “wrong” that the school had come under fire.

On Friday, Arif Qawi, the chairman of governors at St Stephen’s in Newham, east London, resigned.

“I am certainly in support of this school,” said Halfon. “It has very good results. We have to be very careful that very, very young children are not being forced by more hardline elements .... [The Times (£)] Read more