UK Islamic school closed after making staff wear hijabs

By Daniel Shane
  • Wednesday, 2 October 2013 9:48 AM

A Muslim school in the UK has been forced to temporarily close following reports that female staff members were fired for wearing Western clothes and girls were forced to sit at the back of classes.

An inspection of Al Madinah in Derby on October 1 by UK schools regulator Ofsted was reportedly so damning that administrators felt they had no choice but to close it immediately.

Recent media reports regarding the school, which receives government funding and imposes strict Islamic principles, claimed that one teacher was made to quit after being she had not dressed modestly enough. Staff members said that they had been told to wear an Islamic hijab, even if they were not Muslim.

In a statement on its website, the school’s head teacher said that it had taken the decision to shut down due to an unspecified “health and safety issue”. “I have taken the decision to close the school to primary and secondary pupils until I am confident that all children are safe on site,” said Dr GS Wilson. “Assuring you that we have your children’s best interests at heart.”

The school had previously claimed it was the first Islamic free school in Britain to cover all ages from five to 16.

Related:

Stories

Back to school

Saudi private school fees to rise by up to 20%

Saudi Arabia to expel students mocking Islam

Saudi school 'illegally detains students' for not paying fees

Galleries
REVEALED: Dubai’s outstanding schools

REVEALED: Dubai’s outstanding schools

Videos

First Muslim college opens in the US

First Muslim college opens in the US

Also in Education

Enrolments at Gulf schools hit by energy sector slump

No further school fee increases in Abu Dhabi, says ADEC

Join the Discussion

Disclaimer:The view expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by Arabian Business, its employees, sponsors or its advertisers.

Please post responsibly. Commenter Rules

Posted by: diego Sunday, 6 October 2013 1:06 PM[UAE] - chile

although she is non Muslim bt she still have to follow school regulations & dress code. i wont blame her bt i will blame those initially hired her for simple conditions she sign employment contract r they forget to include or she is blind by just signing for financial purpose ........

Reply to this comment.

Posted by: Iftikhar Ahmad Sunday, 6 October 2013 9:01 AM[UAE] - UK

It s Muslim school. Most jobs have a dress code. If you do not like it, you need not apply. You will never be happy with what Muslims do, you dont even appreciate the act that non Muslims were invited to work in a Muslim school. The dress code is hijab, no one is forcing you to work there take it or leave it. It's a non story yet again. More propaganda that all you middle class moaners fall for every single time. For example, I once had a job in a cafe. The manager didn't want me to wear wrist bands from several festivals I had been to, we disagreed and I stood my ground and quit. That is the EXACT same situation as this, why didn't my story get in the DM? Because it doesn't fit with this(and many other) newspapers agenda of keeping us in a society of fear and hate. You people fall for it over and over again.

Everyone has a right to practice their religion regardless of who funds the education. As a Muslim I am in agreement that the lady's dressing fails to meet the Islamic requirem

Reply to this comment.

Posted by: Allan Saturday, 5 October 2013 1:06 PM[UAE] - UK

Ali, a private run school does not have the right to discriminate on the grounds of sex or religion - Equality Act. This is not about 'dress codes'.

Reply to this comment.

Posted by: Mark X Wednesday, 2 October 2013 3:19 PM[UAE] - Argentina

Looks like some people in UK, esp the Authorities who allow such institutions to operate in UK, need their heads examined.

Posted by: Ali Thursday, 3 October 2013 10:16 AM[UAE] - UAE

The fact that it is operating should not be an issue; there are plenty of schools in Muslim countries where girls are not allowed to wear even a head scarf and have to wear knee length skirts, and these schools are run by non-Muslims living in that country

The problem in this UK case is that it was receiving government funding and that is not right. A privately funded school should have the right to have dress codes

Reply to this comment.

All comments are subject to approval before appearing

Further reading

Get E-Mail Alerts

100 Most Powerful Arabs Under 40 - Top 5 from Saudi Arabia »

Fahd Al Rasheed  Loujain Al Hathloul  Hosam Zowawi  Fahad Albutairi  Ayman Hariri 
View complete list
Features & Analysis
GCC's class act threatened by teacher shortages

GCC's class act threatened by teacher shortages

A global shortage of school teachers is particularly hurting...

1
Educating business minds

Educating business minds

University of Wollongong is one of a number of institutions helping...

Back to school

Back to school

The Gulf governments are upping spending on education – but more...

Most Popular
Most Discussed
Read all user comments »
Read all user comments »
Read all user comments »
sponsoredTracking