Ealing School Bans Direct Viewing of Solar Eclipse

Due to 'religious and cultural reasons'

An Ealing primary school has hit the headlines for 'banning' children from directly viewing last week's solar eclipse.

North Primary School on Meadow Road, in Southall, told pupils they must stay inside to watch the event on TV screens.

Ivor Johnstone, headteacher, said:

“The school made this decision when we became aware of religious and cultural concerns associated with observing an eclipse directly. Although we are sorry for any disappointment, pupils were still able to watch the eclipse on screens in classrooms. However, the overcast conditions in West London today meant they would not have been able to see it live in any case.”

It's not clear what the exact concerns were regarding the eclipse and one parent told the Evening Standard he was very disappointed with what he described a 'last-minute, knee-jerk reaction.'

North Primary school is a non-faith school run by Ealing council, and describes itself as “thriving, successful, and multicultural”.

Ealing Council say such decisions are made by headteachers locally.

24th March 2015