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Headteacher taking down Union flag following student protests and racism row

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date01 April 2021
Date01 April 2021
Publication titleMyLondon (England)
Daniel Smith, principal of Pimlico Academy in London, has said the flag will not be flown outside the school while it undertakes a review into the matter.

The head has also agreed to look at updating the PSHE curriculum and he said aspects of the academy’s uniform policy had been revised following concerns.

The move came after scores of pupils chanted “we want change” and walked out of class early on Wednesday in protest against the school’s leadership.

National Education Union NEU members from the school also “overwhelmingly passed a motion of no confidence in the head teacher and to move towards a ballot for industrial action” on Tuesday night.

A new uniform policy ushered in by the head last year, which said that hairstyles that “block the view of others” would not be allowed, and hijabs “should not be too colourful”, sparked the protests.

Last September, a Union flag erected outside the school was also ripped down and set alight by pupils, according to The Guardian, while the walls of the academy were also vandalised with graffiti over the weekend, with messages including “ain’t no black in the Union Jack”.

In a statement, Mr Smith said: “The right to protest is a civil liberty which, in the United Kingdom, we all enjoy, one that was hard-fought for and which not everyone in the world is fortunate to have.

“Our students are bright, courageous, intelligent young people, passionate about the things that matter to them and acutely attuned to injustice.

“I admire them hugely for this though I regret that it came to this.”

He added: “The issue of the flying of the Union flag was discussed at length. We acknowledge that this symbol is a powerful one which evokes often intense reactions.

“We have listened to the concerns of students, parents and the wider community about it.

“After...

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