Schoolchildren behind protest against hijab restrictions face expulsion from London's Pimlico Academy

Pupils who organised the school demonstration called to meeting with headmaster

A sign covered in anti-fascism and anti-racism stickers outside Pimlico Academy School, west London, where students have staged a walkout in protest over a school uniform policy that they claim is discriminatory and racist. Picture date: Wednesday March 31, 2021. (Photo by Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images)

Anti-racism stickers on the sign outside Pimlico Academy in London. Getty

Apr 18, 2021

Organisers of a protest against school uniform rules that alienated Muslim and black pupils are being threatened with expulsion.

Pupils at Pimlico Academy in central London face a meeting with the headmaster when term starts on Monday.

Daniel Smith emailed some parents about the meeting, and said the school was approaching the talks from a “reconciliatory perspective” to avoid permanent exclusion.

Hundreds of pupils walked out of classes on March 31 over a series of complaints, including an edict that hijabs worn by students “should not be too colourful”.

UK headteacher backs down after pupils' hijab protest

Black students were angered by a policy that banned hairstyles that "block the view of others".

After the protests, Mr Smith wrote to parents in an attempt to defuse the row.

A stipulation that headscarves should completely cover the hair was removed, along with a demand that they should be “conventional and understated in style”.

Now in an email to parents, Mr Smith said there could be repercussions.

A police officer outside Pimlico Academy, London, where students staged a walkout in protest over a school uniform policy they claim is discriminatory. Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images

Pimlico Academy head backs down after hijab protests

“Following [pupil’s name] disruptive behaviour on the last day of term, she is required to attend a disciplinary meeting … The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the nature of [name] disruptive behaviour on the last day of term and to give [name] the opportunity to reflect on their actions,” it said.

“You should be aware that if [name] is found to have committed a serious breach of the academy’s behaviour policy and if it is deemed that [name] remaining in school would seriously harm the education or welfare of others, consideration will be given to permanently excluding [name] from the academy,” it said.

Phone camera footage showed hundreds of pupils taking part in the protest and chanting, "We want change". Police kept a low-key presence on the school grounds.

The academy, which teaches more than 1,000 pupils aged 11 to 18, was given the highest "outstanding" rating at its last inspection in 2010.

Situated a short walk from the Houses of Parliament, the school has been a high-profile focus of efforts to improve the life chances of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.