24 September 2010 Last updated at 09:03 ET

Call for Burnley College to rethink headwear ban

A Lancashire sixth form college which bans all headwear - including veils worn for religious reasons - is being urged to reconsider its policy.

Burnley College has does not allow students to wear "headwear of any sort" on the premises, a spokeswoman said.

The University of Central Lancashire, at the same site, does allow headwear.

Sheraz Arshad, of Lancashire Council of Mosques, said Burnley College's policy would discriminate against Muslim woman.

"Many institutions have been able to take a moderate and pragmatic view that takes into a [Muslim] woman's concerns," he said.

Security concerns

He said security concerns could be addressed by the women wearing full veils making themselves known to security guards.

Women choosing to wear the veil on religious grounds could not be compared to people wearing helmets, he said.

The college refused to comment further except to say it was a longstanding policy.

Councillor Wajid Khan works at the university as a course leader in community leadership and represents Danehouse with Stoneyholme ward, which includes the college.

He said students of any religion should be able to wear what they wanted.

'Freedom of choice'

"They should be able to express themselves. It is about a freedom of choice," he said.

He warned it could lead to some students not continuing in further education.

"I think there should be an exception on religious grounds - whether the students are Muslim, Sikh, Jewish or any religion if the headwear is fundamental to their belief.

The Department of Education said clothing was an issue for individual sixth form colleges.