Hindu Student Forced to Change School Over Wearing Sacred Tilak

An eight-year-old Hindu student in London was compelled to move schools after reportedly facing discrimination for wearing a Tilak-Chandlo, a sacred Hindu symbol applied on the forehead. The incident took place at Vicar’s Green Primary School, according to Insight UK, a social movement and advocacy body representing the British Hindu and Indian community. Staff at the school allegedly asked the child to explain and justify his religious practice, a move the organisation described as “entirely inappropriate for a minor.” The situation reportedly escalated when the headteacher closely monitored the student during break times in a manner the child found intimidating, leading him to withdraw from play and isolate himself from peers. It was further claimed that the child was removed from positions of responsibility within the school solely because of his religious practice. If proven, such actions would constitute direct religious discrimination under the UK’s Equality Act 2010, which protects individuals from discrimination based on religion. "No child should feel watched, singled out, or isolated because of their faith, especially not from a person of authority," an Insight UK spokesperson said. "Such experiences can have lasting emotional impacts and raise serious safeguarding questions." The child’s parents, along with other Hindu parents at the school, reportedly made repeated efforts to engage with the headteacher and school governors to explain the religious significance of Hindu practices, including the Tilak-Chandlo. However, these attempts were allegedly met with dismissive responses, with school leadership showing little willingness to understand or accommodate the practices. "This was not a good-faith dialogue. It reflected an imbalance of power, where Hindu religious practices were scrutinised, minimised, and ultimately rejected," the Insight UK spokesperson added. Insight UK also flagged that similar incidents have forced at least four Hindu children to leave Vicar’s Green Primary School, highlighting broader concerns about inclusivity and religious freedom in schools.