0:00:00 > 0:00:01Now on BBC One, it's time for the news where you are.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14Welcome to BBC London News with me, Victoria Hollins.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17A headteacher has backed down from a ban on hijabs in her east
0:00:18 > 0:00:19London primary school.
0:00:19 > 0:00:25St Stephen's in Upton Park recently introduced restrictions on girls
0:00:25 > 0:00:27wearing the headscarf.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29The school said the move was to help Muslim children integrate
0:00:29 > 0:00:31into British society.
0:00:31 > 0:00:32But now that decision has been reversed.
0:00:32 > 0:00:33Here's our Education Reporter,
0:00:33 > 0:00:35Marc Ashdown.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38The hijab is an important part of the Muslim faith,
0:00:38 > 0:00:43worn by some women as a symbol of privacy and modesty.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47But is it appropriate for young children to wear to school?
0:00:47 > 0:00:49The Government leaves it up to individual schools
0:00:49 > 0:00:52to set their own uniform policy and last week, this primary in east
0:00:52 > 0:00:55London banned children under the age of eight from wearing the hijab,
0:00:55 > 0:00:59which has split opinion amongst parents.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02If you see this school has exceeded in their curriculums and everything
0:01:02 > 0:01:04and there was no ban at that time,
0:01:04 > 0:01:06the hijab wasn't banned at that time.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08So that means the hijab is not a problem.
0:01:08 > 0:01:09Why is it a problem?
0:01:09 > 0:01:11It's all about the parents. It should be allowed.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13It shouldn't be banned.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15Depends on the wish.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17If they want to wear hijab, that's OK.
0:01:17 > 0:01:18If they don't, it's OK.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21We don't force them.
0:01:21 > 0:01:29You don't force them at this age. Eight years is not the age.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31The chair of governors also banned children
0:01:31 > 0:01:32from fasting during Ramadan.
0:01:32 > 0:01:33He took to Facebook to explain his reasons.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50But the community here seems to disagree.
0:01:50 > 0:01:55A campaign sprang up to overturn the ban.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57There's a petition which currently has 20,000 signatures.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59There's been a further twist in this saga.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01It's the end of the school day.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03Parents are just arriving to pick up their children,
0:02:03 > 0:02:05and the chair of governors has just tendered his resignation.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07He sent us the e-mail as well.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10In it, he says "I wish them continued success and I'm sorry
0:02:10 > 0:02:12if my actions have caused any harm to the reputation of
0:02:12 > 0:02:16this fantastic school".
0:02:16 > 0:02:18The school told us the uniform policy is based on the health,
0:02:19 > 0:02:20safety and welfare of the children.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22They say they will continue to review the policy,
0:02:22 > 0:02:24working with parents.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27Nobody is forced to wear the hijab.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29Parents have the choice.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32Those parents who wish their children to wear the hijab,
0:02:32 > 0:02:34in the school, many children of Muslim faith do not
0:02:34 > 0:02:35wear the hijab.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38So our main concern here was that we don't want to lose
0:02:38 > 0:02:42the right of choice for my children.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45We don't want them to lose their identity.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48But some warn that there is a danger that there are those who view
0:02:48 > 0:02:49it very differently.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52We believe that it is an imposition made by fundamentalists
0:02:52 > 0:02:56and religious ultraconservatives who want to control
0:02:56 > 0:02:58young women and girls.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03Their rationale is a very dangerous one.
0:03:03 > 0:03:10Ofsted is currently consulting widely on the issue of religious
0:03:10 > 0:03:12garments in schools and will then publish guidance,
0:03:12 > 0:03:14which feels long overdue.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17With more on this story, Ayshea Buksh joins me now.
0:03:17 > 0:03:24So, a sensitive topic and not just at this east London school?
0:03:24 > 0:03:31That's right. The school in Upton Park is rated outstanding by Ofsted.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34It is oversubscribed and the proposal was for girls under eight
0:03:34 > 0:03:37to not have to fast or where the hijab while at school because they
0:03:37 > 0:03:41were regarded as too young. You has one of the highest Muslim
0:03:41 > 0:03:46populations in Britain, -- new home. So it's not surprising that this was
0:03:46 > 0:03:51not popular to everyone. The headteacher told a Sunday paper that
0:03:51 > 0:03:56she recognised that Muslim culture was important, but wanted to promote
0:03:56 > 0:03:59as Mark said, British values and make it easier for children to
0:03:59 > 0:04:03integrate and achieve. Ofsted are also working on their guidance over
0:04:03 > 0:04:06the hijab. Last year, they suggested that their inspectors should be able
0:04:06 > 0:04:10to question girls on why they are wearing it at primary school. This
0:04:10 > 0:04:14was condemned because it was regarded that this would single out
0:04:14 > 0:04:17Muslim girls and they should wear whatever they want in order to be
0:04:17 > 0:04:18successful.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24If you're disabled, use a pushchair or have any mobility problems,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27negotiating stairs or escalators at tube stations can
0:04:27 > 0:04:32pose huge problems.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34Today transport bosses announced a multi million pound plan
0:04:34 > 0:04:35to address that issue.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37It's all part of the drive to improve accessibility
0:04:38 > 0:04:39on the Underground network.
0:04:39 > 0:04:40Here's our transport correspondent Tom Edwards.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43For most travellers, stairs are just part
0:04:43 > 0:04:46of the daily commute.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50For others like Valerie, steps are a big barrier to using the tube.
0:04:50 > 0:04:51Too many stairs.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53Often, you've got two or three flights.
0:04:53 > 0:04:59Like Oxford Circus, you've got at least two
0:04:59 > 0:05:00flights of stairs to go up.
0:05:00 > 0:05:01And lots of people.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04If you got bags or luggage, it's very difficult.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06Today it was announced that a further 13 tube
0:05:06 > 0:05:08stations will go step-free, among them Northolt in north-west
0:05:08 > 0:05:11London, where they'll get a lift.
0:05:11 > 0:05:17In total, it will cost £200 million.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20Here at Northolt, it will be a lift solution to improve
0:05:20 > 0:05:22the accessibility from the street down to the platform.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24Other stations will be assessed depending
0:05:24 > 0:05:28on the environment of the station.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31Sometimes it's a ramp solution, which is obviously a simpler install
0:05:31 > 0:05:34and a more efficient way to provide the same accessibility.
0:05:34 > 0:05:40At the moment, 72 out of 270 tube stations are step-free, 28%.
0:05:40 > 0:05:45By 2022, the mayor wants 102, or 40% of stations,
0:05:45 > 0:05:49including Crossrail, to be step-free.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51But campaigners want more.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54A lot of older people think of the tube as something
0:05:54 > 0:06:01that's not for them.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04Stairs are a big part of the reason for that.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06They're not the only reason, but they're a big
0:06:06 > 0:06:07part of the reason.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09Ambitious plans to make the tube more accessible
0:06:09 > 0:06:14have faltered before.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16Campaigners are hoping that this time, there will be more progress
0:06:16 > 0:06:22to make the tube more accessible for everyone.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25That's it for now from me, but let's find out what the weather's up
0:06:25 > 0:06:26to with Chris Fawkes.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35Our weekend weather can be summed up quite nicely in the satellite
0:06:35 > 0:06:40picture. Clear skies at the moment, but looking over my shoulder, love
0:06:40 > 0:06:43pressure that will bring rain on Saturday. And we have low pressure
0:06:43 > 0:06:46off the eastern Canada which will bring heavy rain our way for the
0:06:46 > 0:06:50second half of the weekend. Not the most inspiring weekend. The clear
0:06:50 > 0:06:54skies at the moment are allowing temperatures to fall close to
0:06:54 > 0:06:57freezing, but it's also breezy. If you get a frost, temperatures will
0:06:57 > 0:07:08not get far below and rain will be arriving towards the end of the
0:07:08 > 0:07:10night. On Saturday, thickening cloud spreads in, bringing outbreaks of
0:07:10 > 0:07:14rain. There could be some snow mixed in with this and sleet over the tops
0:07:14 > 0:07:16of the Chilterns. Otherwise, it is a cold rain that will be falling for
0:07:16 > 0:07:23most of us. Temperatures will be struggling. For the second half of
0:07:23 > 0:07:28the weekend, another area of low pressure will move in, bringing
0:07:28 > 0:07:33heavy outbreaks of rain and an intern smiled the next week.