Hampstead School governors reject students’ proposal to extend right to religious clothing

A motion by pupils calling for boys to be allowed to wear religious clothing to school has been rejected.

Hampstead School’s student council requested that boys be allowed to wear “cultural dress to school” including the Islamic Taqiyah cap or prayer robes. But the council was told the idea had been dismissed after being raised with governors.

The uniform policy states that boys are only allowed to wear the Sikh turban or Jewish kippah, though both genders are allowed to wear discreet items of religious jewellery. Female pupils can wear items of cultural dress as long as the school logo is showing. These include the jilbab, a long loose dress worn by some Muslim women, and the kameez, a long tunic worn by Asian women.

Jacques Szemalikowski, who is headteacher at the school in Westbere Road, Cricklewood, said: “All parents and students are aware of our uniform expectations when the join they school.”

Hampstead & Highgate Express, 27 June 2014