A Perivale ward primary school is facing allegations of religious discrimination after a Hindu advocacy group claimed several pupils were forced to leave following disputes over the wearing of religious symbols.
Insight UK, which represents members of the British Hindu and Indian community, has raised concerns about the treatment of Hindu pupils at Vicar’s Green Primary School in Alperton. The group claims that at least four children have left the school after staff challenged the wearing of sacred Hindu forehead markings.
Insight UK has called on the school to review its policies and confirm that Hindu pupils are permitted to wear religious symbols without fear of exclusion or disadvantage.
The most recent case cited by the organisation involves an eight-year-old boy who was questioned by school staff for wearing a Tilak-Chandlo, a religious symbol worn by many Hindus.
An Insight UK spokesperson said: “The Tilak-Chandlo is not a cosmetic or cultural accessory — it is an integral religious observance for many Hindus. Preventing a child from practising their faith, or making them feel ashamed or intimidated for doing so, is wholly unacceptable in a modern, multicultural Britain.”
Insight UK said the way the issue was handled caused significant distress to the child and his family, leaving the parents feeling they had no option but to move him to another school.
The school, however, said it is “proud to be a diverse and inclusive school” and that it handled discussions with the family “respectfully, sensitively and thoroughly”.
Insight UK said it was particularly concerned that the Tilak-Chandlo was allegedly referred to by staff as a “skin mark” or “skin marking”, language it described as dismissive and culturally insensitive. It also raised safeguarding concerns, claiming the child was asked to explain and justify his religious practice and that he was allegedly monitored during break times by the headteacher, which it said led to the child withdrawing from play and isolating himself.
The organisation further alleged that the pupil was removed from positions of responsibility because of his religious practice, and that repeated attempts by parents to explain the religious significance of Hindu symbols to school leaders and governors were dismissed. Insight UK said the alleged actions may breach the Equality Act 2010, the Public Sector Equality Duty and Department for Education guidance on religious expression in schools.
In response, a spokesperson for Vicar’s Green Primary School told EALING.NEWS:
“We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive school with pupils with more than 50 language backgrounds and a significant number who are Hindu. Our most recent Ofsted inspections in 2013 and 2024, in which we were rated outstanding, both described the school as a highly inclusive environment and a true melting pot where children thrive.
“Our longstanding school policy asks pupils not to wear visible skin markings including religious ones. We met with the parents of a pupil who was wearing a Tilak-Chandlo on their forehead to discuss the matter sensitively and sought to understand the reason for it. We fully recognised the family’s religious beliefs and, in a spirit of conciliation, we offered a reasonable compromise by making an exception to our policy so the symbol could be worn on a less prominent part of the body. This was, unfortunately, rejected by the pupil’s parents.
“The school’s governing body also thoroughly reviewed the case and wrote to the parents explaining the school’s decision in detail and also offered the reasonable adjustments the school had offered, as well as special religious occasions. Unfortunately, the parents did not accept either of these adjustments.
“We have always approached these discussions respectfully, sensitively and thoroughly, which has taken up a considerable amount of time and stress for the school, and its community. As a school, our priority is always the wellbeing of all our children.
“We are very proud that Vicar’s Green Primary School is an outstanding inclusive institution that values and respects the diverse cultural and religious backgrounds in its community and its school policy is designed to promote cohesion, fairness, equality and a shared sense of belonging while preventing division or disruption within the school community.”
