Earlier this week, Amanda Spielman, the chief inspector of schools, made a shocking announcement about a policy that will see Muslim girls who wear the hijab to primary school questioned by Ofsted inspectors about their motives for wearing it. The reasons will be reflected in the school’s final reports.

Whenever news like this breaks, we often wonder what can be done and find ourselves feeling helpless in situations regarding the Government and institutions. What’s important to remember is we all need to do our bit, and that will weigh heavy as a collective. We, as a community, need to stand together. After speaking to MEND’s Policy & Research team, we’ve made a short list of things you can do to help.  

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MEND Advise the following action:

1.Write to Professor Julius Weinberg, Chair of Ofsted, explaining why Ms. Spielman’s announcement is discriminatory and calling for her to respect religious tolerance and parental choice (For more guidance on the letter visit Mend)

NOTE: Please follow the template as a guide and write your own words, letters to MPs that are copy and pasted are said to be ignored.

“We call on all parents to use the letter as a template to write to Professor Julius Weinberg, Chair of Ofsted, explaining why Ms Spielman’s announcement is discriminatory and calling for her to respect religious tolerance and parental choice. Please do not just cut and paste this letter, rather make similar points in your own words.”

– MEND

Source: Example of template letter

2. Write to Ofsted

Email: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk

Write to: Ofsted, Piccadilly Gate, Store Street, Manchester, M1 2WD

3. Write to MPs

Find your MP with theyworkforyou.com and then select the option to ‘Send a message’

4. Write to the teaching unions

National Education Union (NEU)

NASWUT Teachers Union

NAHT for leaders, for learners

5. Urge head teachers and governors at your local school, the school you attended or your child’s school to write to all of the above

What do you need to highlight?

When explaining these events the following needs to be highlighted:

• Human Rights Act
• Equalities Act 2011
• Rights of parents
• Lack of evidence of sexualisation

The lack of consultation also needs to be highlighted; no mainstream Muslim organisation or teaching union was called for consultation in devising the recommendation.

More Information

• MEND Article suggests that Ofsted’s hijab proposal echoes Trojan Horse paranoia
• In a recent MEND statement, calls for transparency are made after discovering neither the Muslim Council of Britain or Association of Muslim Schools were consulted
• The CEO of MEND, Shazad Amin, has also personally written to the Secretary of State for Education, Justine Greening

If Ofsted does not reverse its decision, MEND will consider legal action against Ofsted.