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The Education Secretary has said it was “utterly wrong” for the headteacher of a leading primary school to have suffered abuse after banning the hijab for girls under eight.

Damian Hinds backed the right of school leaders to set their own uniform policies, saying they are in charge and should not be harassed as a result.

His intervention came after Neena Lall, head of St Stephen’s primary in Newham, came under fierce personal criticism — which saw her likened to Hitler — after banning young pupils from wearing the Islamic headscarf in school. The decision was later reversed following the backlash from parents.

Mr Hinds told the Evening Standard: “I am very clear that schools set uniform policy.

"Schools are in charge of what is okay to wear to school and nobody should be subject to abuse and harassment — no school leader or school governor — as a result of that.

“It is schools that determine these things. We expect them obviously to do that in consultation with parents and thinking about their local community but it is schools that are in charge.”

His comments follow Ofsted head Amanda Spielman’s decision to place on record her “full support” for Mrs Lall.

Mr Hinds said: “I support school leaderships, headteachers, across the board in being able to set their uniform policy.

"And it is utterly wrong that then people should come in for the sorts of abuse that we have heard reported.”

Former Ofsted head Sir Michael Wilshaw has called on the Government to give schools official guidance on the hijab rather than leaving it to headteachers who face criticism for their decisions and are “alone, isolated and vulnerable”.

Sources close to St Stephen’s also said the Government should bring in rules to take pressure off headteachers. Ms Spielman urged ministers to do more to support schools that make “tough decisions in the interests of their pupils”.

But Mr Hinds stressed it was up to schools to make their own uniform rules.

The school in Upton Park was last year named the best primary in England by the Sunday Times, which later triggered the furore with an article in which Ms Lall was quoted as saying she made changes to help pupils integrate into modern British society.

The hijab ban was said to help the youngest girls move freely in PE lessons and outdoor learning. Some campaigners want the hijab to be banned nationally for younger girls, saying it sexualises them because it is not traditionally worn until puberty.

It has emerged that the Department for Education contacted St Stephen’s following the controversy and offered to meet staff and offer support. Ofsted inspectors also visited the school, which is rated “outstanding”, after the row.

Current school uniform guidance states: “Pupils have the right to manifest a religion or belief, but not necessarily at all times, places or in a particular manner.”