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REX/Sipa Press
UK News

Sir Michael Wilshaw's veil comments "political opportunism", says Muslim CofE worker

by Aaron James

Anjum Anwar was speaking after Sir Michael Wilshaw announced he'd allow school inspectors to rate as 'inadequate' - effectively failing them - if the full-face veil were a "barrier to learning".

Sir Michael said: "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."

Mrs Anwar, who has taught in schools for the last fifteen years, said in her experience she has never seen a student or teacher wear a full-face veil in the classroom.

The Dialogue Development Officer for Blackburn Cathedral also said that the veil does not impede learning, and urged Sir Michael Wilshaw to provide evidence for this before publicly declaring he'd issued instructions like these to inspectors.

She told Premier: "Why are we using the veil to have a conversation to demonise a community? Because this is how it's being perceived.

"I'm a student of Classical Arabic, and sometimes I don't have face-to-face opportunities to learn... So he can't see me, but I can see him. But that doesn't affect my learning.

"I would like to see some empirical evidence, or is this political opportunism? Because as a teacher I have yet to see any student in 1,000 schools that I've visited since after 9/11 wearing a full veil, or even a teacher wearing a full veil.

"The connection between learning and wearing a veil doesn't exist. I have many friends who are doctors, scientists and... teachers who wear a full veil."

A Department for Education spokesman said: "We fully support Sir Michael's statement. We are pleased that Heads and school leaders who choose to implement policies which restrict the wearing of the veil to support effective teaching and learning will receive Ofsted's backing.

"It is also clearly right that if the wearing of the veil is interfering with education in schools that should trigger action from Ofsted."

Listen to Premier's Aaron James speaking to Anjum Anwar.

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