Barnet Hill Academy to receive public funds while mandating hijabs for young girls

Barnet Hill Academy, an independent Islamic primary in north London, is set to become a voluntary-aided school, meaning the majority of its budget will come from state funds. The school enforces a rule that requires girls from year three onward to wear hijabs, a practice the author contends undermines the UK's commitment to gender equality and religious freedom. The article warns that public money should not support institutions that impose such religious dress codes on pre-pubescent children.

It references a 2018 case at St Stephen’s Primary in Newham, where headmistress Neena Lall was forced to reverse a ban on hijabs for young pupils after receiving threats. The author calls for Barnet Council to reconsider the decision and subject it to broader public scrutiny, arguing that schools should promote integration rather than segregation.