Ryder Hayes School, a “Primary Learning Academy” in Walsall, has come under scrutiny for its part in the shocking series of Hate Crimes and Hate Incidents directed at a Sikh family whose child attends the school.

On 13/11/24 Mr Singh, an Amritdhari Sikh, was allegedly assaulted and harassed by the parent of another child who attends the school simply because she saw that Mr Singh was wearing a kirpan. Sikh Justice covered this incident in a previous post which can be found here – Sikh Family Targeted by Hate Crime Over Kirpan.

The matter was reported to the police, and staff at Ryder Hayes School were initially supportive of Mr Singh and informed the parent that Mr Singh has a legal right to wear the kirpan and confirmed there were no safeguarding issues with Mr Singh wearing his kirpan.

Mr Singh thought that was the end of the matter, however, the parent who targeted Mr Singh allegedly escalated the situation by inciting other parents to target Mr Singh on his social media, and allegedly encouraged other parents to contact the school in a conspiracy to religiously harass and intimidate Mr Singh.

The parent allegedly asked other parents to help put pressure on the school to ban Mr Singh from attending the school, and used unrelated images from his social media in an attempt to portray Mr Singh as a “risk” in an apparent revenge attack for the parent being proven wrong by Mr Singh and the school.

Unfortunately, the school acquiesced to the demands of the campaign of incitement of religious harassment from this parent, which has resulted in the school banning Mr Singh from attending the school to pick up his child, in further breach of his rights.

The school now appears to be in breach of its Public Sector Equality Duty and may have committed Hate Crimes itself in this shocking example of religiously motived hatred against Sikhs.

Sikh Justice has approached the school for comment and will post a follow-up article if and when we receive a response from the school.

If you or someone you know has been affected by religious discrimination or Hate Crimes please do not stay silent. If you are in immediate danger please contact the police or people you trust. You can also contact Sikh Justice using our contact page.