TA loses sacking appeal

Teaching assistant Aishah Azmi has lost her latest appeal over her sacking for wearing a full-face veil in class.

The Employment Appeals Tribunal said she had not suffered direct discrimination when Headfield Church of England School in Dewsbury West Yorkshire suspended, then dismissed her from her job as bilingual support worker.

Staff at the school said children found it hard to understand what she said. Mrs Azmi said she was willing to remove the veil in front of children but not when male colleagues were present.

The tribunal said that there had been indirect discrimination, but that the school in this case had justified its actions.