R (Playfoot) v Millais School Governing Body

English court case over school banning jewellery

R (on the application of Playfoot) v Millais School Governing Body

A purity ring.

Court| Administrative Court
Decided| 16 July 2007
Citations| [2007] EWHC 1698 (Admin), [2007] LGR 851, [2007] 3 FCR 754
Case opinions
Deputy Judge Michael Supperstone QC
Keywords
Religious discrimination

R (on the application of Playfoot) v Millais School Governing Body [2007] EWHC 1698 (Admin)[1] is an English discrimination law case concerning freedom of religion. It was decided under the Human Rights Act 1998.

## Facts

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A school pupil insisted that wearing a purity ring at school was a manifestation of her religious beliefs as a Christian. The school had a policy against jewellery, and she was told she was not allowed to wear it.[2] She claimed this violated her right to freedom of religion under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights.[3] She was represented by Paul Diamond and funded by the advocacy group Christian Concern.[3]

## Judgment

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Michael Supperstone QC held in the Administrative Court that not only was the wearing of the ring not linked to a belief in chastity before marriage, but that it was not any requirement of the Christian faith.[4] The uniform policy, which she had accepted by going to the school, did not create any undue hardship. The policy was prescribed by law in the legitimate pursuit of creating equality and cohesion, minimising pressure from markings of difference in wealth or status. So any interference with her Article 9 rights was justified.[5][6]

## See also

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* UK employment discrimination law
* UK labour law
* Human Rights Act 1998

## Notes

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1. ^ R (on the application of Playfoot (a minor)) v Millais School [2007] EWHC 1698 (Admin), [2007] 3 FCR 754, [2007] ACD 80, [2007] BLGR 851, [2007] HRLR 34, [2007] ELR 484, [2007] LGR 851 (16 July 2007)
2. ^ Sara Moslener (1 June 2015). Virgin Nation: Sexual Purity and American Adolescence. Oxford University Press. p. 141\. ISBN 978-0-19-998778-8.
3. ^ a b "'Purity' ring case in High Court". BBC World News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
4. ^ Leigh, Ian (2012), Babie, Paul; Rochow, Neville (eds.), "Religious Freedom in the UK after the Human Rights Act 1998", Freedom of Religion under Bills of Rights, University of Adelaide Press, pp. 243–244, doi:10.20851/j.ctt1t3051j.17, ISBN 978-0-9871718-0-1, retrieved 20 May 2025
5. ^ Topping, Alexandra (23 June 2007). "Girl takes school to court over right to wear 'purity' ring". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
6. ^ Orr, James (22 June 2007). "School's chastity ring ban 'violated religious freedom'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 May 2025.