Pupils at Pimlico Academy in London chant ‘we want change’ in protest over ‘racist’ uniform policy they say penalises students with afros and bans ‘colourful hijabs’ as headteacher faces calls to quit
- Videos of pupils taking action at London school widely shared on social media
- The school told parents and students of the uniform policy in a letter last year
- Bosses said hairstyles which ‘block the views’ of others were now banned
- More than a thousand people then signed a petition against the ‘racist’ policy
Students chanted ‘we want change’ this morning as they protested against their head teacher’s policy banning Afro hair and ‘colourful’ hijabs.
Videos of pupils taking action at Pimlico Academy in Westminster, central London, have gone viral on social media, being shared hundreds of times.
The school told sixth form students and parents of the new uniform policy in a letter last August, saying that hairstyles which ‘block the views’ of others were now banned.
Videos of pupils taking action at Pimlico Academy in Westminster, central London , have gone viral on social media, being shared hundreds of times
Students chanted ‘we want change’ this morning as they protested against their head teacher’s policy banning Afro hair and ‘colourful’ hijabs
An online petition was swiftly set up against the ‘racist’ policy, and it has since been signed by more than a thousand people.
The National Education Union, which represents the school’s teachers, was due to hold a vote of no confidence in new head Daniel Smith last night.
Discussions over potential strike action were also due to take place, while one teacher warned of a ‘mass exodus’ of up to 30 staff members leaving the school.
The sit-down protest came following reports that a senior member of staff had asked pupils to cancel the action the day before, but this only made the teenagers more determined to take part.
Graffiti – since removed – daubed the walls of the school over the weekend, criticising the Union Jack flag which flies outside the premises all year round.
The graffiti said: ‘Ain’t no black in the Union Jack’, ‘White schools for brown kids are u mad’ and ‘Pimlico Academy…run by racists…for profit,’ according to reports.
One pupil told the Guardian ahead of the protest: ‘We believe the school has unfairly targeted groups of students.
‘The school should protect marginalised races, religions and other groups instead of target them. We should see ourselves and our backgrounds represented in our studies.’
Pimlico Academy has been approached for comment.
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