A ROW has broken out over plans to introduce a uniform headscarf for girls at a Burnley high school.

Bosses at Sir John Thursby Community College planned to introduce the uniform covering after concerns were raised by some students, parents and staff about headscarves 'not being worn correctly'.

But the new coverings sparked complaints from wearers who said they were uncomfortable and not sufficiently modest.

Previously girls who wished to wear a head covering could choice their own style as long as it was black, as is the case at Burnley High School and Hameldon Community College.

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The changes marked the first time bosses at the Eastern Avenue school has introduced a specific school headscarf style.

Parents had also complained there had been a lack of consultation into the change in uniform policy, with more than 150 people signing an online petition against the changes.

The petition also accuses the school of attempting to 'put girls off wearing one at all'.

However headteacher David Burton said the consultation has been on-going for months and they are still collecting the views of parents.

It is unclear whether students are being told to wear the uniform ones, which critics said are too short and very tight, while the consultation period is on-going.

Some Muslim girls choose to wear the headscarf as a symbol of modest dress.

In a letter to parents Mr Burton disputed the suggestion they are against headscarves.

The online petition, which is believed to have been set up by a parent, said: "Unfortunately there was very little consultation by parents or the girls attending the school.

"Consequently a scarf designed by the school has been created.

"The scarf is very displeasing for the girls as it bares very little difference to a swimming cap.

"It is very tight and in some cases too short as some of the girls have long hair and so it defeats the object to wear it."

The petition states, while the scarf claims to meet health and safety standards because it does not require pins, it uses a loop 'which can cause suffocation if it is pulled back by another person'.

It also claims girls have returned home from school in tears because their non-uniform scarves were taken off them.

The pettion states: "My daughter was told to remove her scarf if she won't wear the school approved one, to me that is not a choice but an ultimatum."

It also questions the reasons behind the introduction stating: "So what is the real agenda? It is to put girls off wearing one at all?"

In a letter to parents Mr Burton said: "We are sorry that there have been suggestions that the school is against headscarves.

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

"Students, staff and parents had expressed some concerns that some students were not wearing headscarves correctly although the rules had not changed on headscarves.

"We looked towards changing the uniform policy to include a uniform headscarf as we were aware that a change needed to be considered."

He told the Lancashire Telegraph: "We started a consultation process in September and we are still collecting the views of parents.

"Once we have collected these views we will be discussing them with governors."

Cllr Shah Hussain, who covers the Daneshouse with Stoneyholme ward, said he had been contacted by parents worried about the policy and the lack of consultation.

He said: "Children have told them it is not appropriate. The whole point is it is supposed to protect the wearer's modesty and that does not happen. They are quite unhappy about it.

"It is quite short and leaves the chest area not covered. The wearers are saying it should serve a purpose and if it is not serving the purpose why should they wear it?

"It has to be designed with the wearer in mind and the wearer helping to design it.

"The school has now taken that step by consulting parents."

Parents can give their feedback on the policy until June 27.