Ms Spielman, whose religious background is not known, strongly backed St Stephen’s School in Newham, east London, after it decided to stop the youngest pupils from wearing the Islamic headscarf in class.
She said school leaders such as the headteacher, Neena Lall, “must have the right to set school uniform policies as they see fit, in order to promote cohesion”.
The ban generated a public outcry and led a video circulating on social media that likened Ms Lall to Adolf Hitler.
Pressure from parents and community leaders led the school’s chairman of governors to resign and the hijab ban was eventually reversed.
St Stephen’s is rated outstanding by Ofsted.
