School is at the centre of a headscarf row after parents of Muslim girls say its new ‘swimming cap’ style veil is ‘not modest enough’

• A universal headscarf was made for John Thursby Community College, Burnley 
• But parents and students complained it was too short and potentially dangerous 
• 150 people signed a petition for the controversial new design to be scrapped
• The headteacher has written to parents to deny they are 'against headscarves' 

A row has erupted at a school after plans for a universal 'swimming cap' style headscarf were deemed to be too short by some Muslim girls.

Parents launched an online petition in retaliation to the new veil policy at John Thursby Community College, in Burnley, Lancashire, because they are too modest and can also pose a suffocation risk if pulled back by another student.

The only rule girls previously had to follow was that their headscarfs had to be black, but they were free to choose any style and length they pleased.

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A row has erupted at a school headscarf were deemed to be too short by some Muslim girls (file image)

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Parents launched an online petition against in retaliation to the new veil policy at John Thursby Community College (pictured), in Burnley, Lancashire

Some feel that the move is aimed at deterring girls from wearing headscarves at all, and 150 people signed the online petition for the controversial new design to be scrapped.

Local councillor Shah Hussain has waded into the debate, and told the Telegraph: 'The whole point is that it is supposed to protect the wearer's modesty, and that does not happen.'

And the school's head teacher David Burton has now been forced to write to parents to clarify his position, admitting that some changes may have to be made to the design.

'We are sorry there have been suggestions that the school is against headscarves,' he said in a letter to parents.

'This is not true. We respect fully the wishes of girls to wear a headscarf and we always have done.' 

Local councillor Shah Hussain ( has waded into the debate, while head teacher David Burton has been forced to write to parents

It is not the first time a school has found itself in hot water over its policy on headscarves.

In January, a Roman Catholic School found itself at the centre of a social media storm after telling parents of a four-year-old Muslim girl she should not wear the religious garment.

St Clare's School in Handsworth, West Midlands, has a strict uniform policy, including no headwear or scarf and asked parents of the girl to respect it.

One needs to do a double take on this story to ascertain that is not about a madrasa. Sir John Thursby Community College in Burnley, Lancashire has succumbed to dhimmitude. A row has begun over the school’s provision of headscarves for Muslim women not being modest enough because they are a bit too short in some cases, revealing longer hair. The head teacher, David Burton, has written a letter of apology to Muslim parents, explaining that he is not against headscarves and that he intends to fix them; no mention about who is paying for this Sharia police favor to fix the oppressive covering. The Muslim Local councillor, Shah Hussain, also weighed in, stating that “the whole point is that it is supposed to protect the wearer’s modesty, and that does not happen.”

The Islamization of the UK is out of control: Sharia courts are operating beyond the reach of British law and teaching children fundamental British values has been deemed an act of “cultural supremacism” by the National Union of Teachers.