26 October 2015

Park View banned girls from mixed sports because it made 'male staff uncomfortable', hearing told

Female pupils were banned from mixed sports at a Birmingham school because male teachers “did not want girls to be seen with their bits jumping up and down,” a hearing was told.

Monzoor Hussain, former principal at Park View Academy, allegedly made the remark to school press officer Susan Packer after she complained girls had been pulled out of a tennis coaching session because it was run by a male instructor.

Mrs Packer first complained to executive head teacher Lindsey Clark who had written the Academy’s policy on sports, but according to her statement she was told that “the governors did not want mixed sports lessons.”

Unhappy with Ms Clark’s alleged response, Mrs Packer then took her concerns to Mr Hussain. She said in her statement: “Monzoor Hussain told me that girls were not allowed to play, as the male staff felt uncomfortable.

“He said that ‘the men did not want the girls to be seen with their bits jumping up and down.’ This shocked me and made me feel very uncomfortable as I did not think it was appropriate for a principal to say that.” [Birmingham Mail] Read more