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

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.