School uniforms, religious, symbols and the Human Rights Act 1998: the 'purity ring' case

Bacquet, S. 2008. School uniforms, religious, symbols and the Human Rights Act 1998: the 'purity ring' case. Education Law Journal. 9 (1), pp. 11-18.

TitleSchool uniforms, religious, symbols and the Human Rights Act 1998: the 'purity ring' case
AuthorsBacquet, S.
Abstract

The article comments on the decision of the High Court in R (Playfoot) v Governing Body of Millais School (the ‘purity ring’ case), where the court was asked to rule on whether the school’s governing body’s decision not to allow Lydia Playfoot to wear a silver ring as a symbol of her commitment to celibacy until marriage, constituted a violation of Arts 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion) and 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 1950. The case raises important issues in relation to religious freedom, schools and their duties under the Human Rights Act 1998. The article seeks to highlight the extent to which the new legislation has led schools to become increasingly involved in religious matters and discusses some of the problems that may be associated with this approach.

KeywordsR (Playfoot) v Governing Body of Millais School (2007), Human Rights Act 1998, European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 1950, schools, religious freedoms
JournalEducation Law Journal
Journal citation9 (1), pp. 11-18
ISSN1469-0152
Year2008
PublisherJordan Publishing
Publication dates
PublishedMar 2008

Related outputs

Reasonable Adjustments vs. Indirect Discrimination: are all Protected Characteristics Equal Under the UK Equality Act 2010? A Review of Religious and Disability Discrimination in Employment Cases
Bacquet, S. and Bunbury, S. 2022. Reasonable Adjustments vs. Indirect Discrimination: are all Protected Characteristics Equal Under the UK Equality Act 2010? A Review of Religious and Disability Discrimination in Employment Cases. Law & Justice - the Christian Law Review. 188, pp. 6-20.

Manifestation of Belief and the “Liberal” Law of Religion: Why It Is Time to Rethink the Status-Quo?
Bacquet, S. 2022. Manifestation of Belief and the “Liberal” Law of Religion: Why It Is Time to Rethink the Status-Quo? Religion & Human Rights. 17 (1), pp. 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1163/18710328-bja10023

Religious Symbols and the Intervention of the Law: Symbolic Functionality in Pluralist States
Bacquet, S. 2019. Religious Symbols and the Intervention of the Law: Symbolic Functionality in Pluralist States. London Routledge.

Striking a Balance: Restoring a neglected leading work
Bacquet, S. 2018. Striking a Balance: Restoring a neglected leading work . in: Sandberg, R. (ed.) Leading Works in Law and Religion Abingdon, Oxon, England Routledge. pp. 20-31

Book Review: Religion, Law and the Constitution by Hall and Garcia Oliva
Bacquet, S. 2017. Book Review: Religion, Law and the Constitution by Hall and Garcia Oliva . Law & Justice - the Christian Law Review. 179, p. 207.

Non-Religious Views in the RE School Curriculum: What Can We Learn from R (Fox and Others) v Secretary of State for Education? [2016]
Bacquet, S. 2016. Non-Religious Views in the RE School Curriculum: What Can We Learn from R (Fox and Others) v Secretary of State for Education? [2016] . Education Law Journal. 2016 (1), p. 11.

Religious Symbols and the Making of Contemporary Religious Identities
Bacquet, S. 2015. Religious Symbols and the Making of Contemporary Religious Identities. in: Sandberg, R. (ed.) Religion and Legal Pluralism Ashgate. pp. 113-132

Book Review: Religion Law and Society by Russell Sandberg
Bacquet, S. 2014. Book Review: Religion Law and Society by Russell Sandberg . Law & Justice - the Christian Law Review. 173, p. 213.

On - track: A Change Academy project investigating student attendance and engagement
Smith, C.L., Benson, N., Reilly, A.M., Allen, J., Clements, M.O., Shacklady, D., Davies, P., Bacquet, S. and Umeh, K. 2013. On - track: A Change Academy project investigating student attendance and engagement. 12th Annual Westminster Learning and Teaching Symposium. 04 Jul 2013

Religious freedom in a secular society: an analysis of the French approach to manifestation of beliefs in the public sphere
Bacquet, S. 2012. Religious freedom in a secular society: an analysis of the French approach to manifestation of beliefs in the public sphere. in: Cumper, P. and Lewis, T. (ed.) Religion and rights and secular society: European perspectives Edward Elgar. pp. 147-168

Press coverage of the second intifada (September 2000 - April 2002): impressions of media bias
Bacquet, S. 2011. Press coverage of the second intifada (September 2000 - April 2002): impressions of media bias. VDM Verlag.

Freedom of expression v. hate speech: an illustration of the dilemma through an in-depth analysis of judicial approaches in England and France
Bacquet, S. 2011. Freedom of expression v. hate speech: an illustration of the dilemma through an in-depth analysis of judicial approaches in England and France. VDM Verlag.

Book review: Law and religion, by Russell Sandberg
Bacquet, S. 2011. Book review: Law and religion, by Russell Sandberg. Law & Justice - the Christian Law Review. 167, pp. 87-91.

Manifestation of Belief and Religious Symbols at School: Setting Boundaries in English Courts
Bacquet, S. 2009. Manifestation of Belief and Religious Symbols at School: Setting Boundaries in English Courts. Religion and Human Rights. 4 (2-3). https://doi.org/10.1163/187103109X12471223630919

The next generation of legal aid solicitors: the LSC’s Training Grants Scheme
Bacquet, S., Boon, A., Webley, L. and Whyte, A. 2009. The next generation of legal aid solicitors: the LSC’s Training Grants Scheme. in: Buck, A. (ed.) Reaching further: innovation, access and quality in legal services : papers from the Legal Services Research Centre's seventh international research conference, Reaching further, Royal Naval Academy in Greenwich, London, 18th to 20th June 2008 London Stationary Office. pp. 143-165

Evaluation of the Legal Service Commission's Training Contract Grant Scheme
Bacquet, S., Boon, A., Webley, L. and Whyte, A. 2008. Evaluation of the Legal Service Commission's Training Contract Grant Scheme. Legal Services Commission.

School uniforms, religious, symbols and the Human Rights Act 1998: the 'purity ring' case
Bacquet, S. 2008. School uniforms, religious, symbols and the Human Rights Act 1998: the 'purity ring' case. Socio-Legal Studies Association (SLSA) Annual Conference. Manchester 18 - 20 Mar 2008

A review of how other countries provide information and advice to the vulnerable on consumer and social issues
Webley, L. and Bacquet, S. 2006. A review of how other countries provide information and advice to the vulnerable on consumer and social issues. London, UK DTI. https://doi.org/URN06/1871

Mediation through the Birmingham court-based scheme
Webley, L., Abrams, P. and Bacquet, S. 2006. Mediation through the Birmingham court-based scheme. Journal of Housing Law. 9 (1), pp. 9-12.

Evaluation of the Birmingham court-based Civil (non-family) mediation scheme
Webley, L., Abrams, P. and Bacquet, S. 2006. Evaluation of the Birmingham court-based Civil (non-family) mediation scheme. London, UK Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Report on international approaches to the defence of indigent persons in criminal cases: a report for Lord Carter's review of legal aid procurement
Flood, J., Whyte, A. and Bacquet, S. 2005. Report on international approaches to the defence of indigent persons in criminal cases: a report for Lord Carter's review of legal aid procurement. London, UK Department for Constitutional Affairs.

An analysis of the resurgence of anti-semitism in France
Bacquet, S. 2004. An analysis of the resurgence of anti-semitism in France. Journal of Diplomatic Language. 1 (4).

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/91304/school-uniforms-religious-symbols-and-the-human-rights-act-1998-the-purity-ring-case


Share this

Usage statistics

244 total views
0 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.