A mother has expressed outrage after a "staff member" was spotted wearing a Sikh ceremonial sword at her son's school in Cheshire.
Gemma Beech, 42, from Mow Cop, was alarmed after receiving an email from Congleton High School about a pupil spotting the staff member wearing a kirpan.
A kirpan is a ceremonial sword worn by Sikhs that represents their duty to stand up against injustice.
It is one of the '5 K's' that Sikhs are required to keep with them at all times as part of their faith.
The Cheshire school brought in the small ceremonial sword
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Beech believes the ceremonial sword has no place in a school environment and has started an online petition.
"At the minute, knife crime is a very big issue. So for kids to be unexpectedly exposed to things like this at the school seems inappropriate to me," she said.
"Think of how that could look to a child who doesn't know better. It looks like a concealed weapon. They've spotted it unexpectedly without any warning. It must have been terrifying for them."
She added: "I don't want people to get the wrong idea, I've got lots of respect for Sikhs and other communities."
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A kirpan is a small ceremonial sword
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UK law states that kirpans and other forms of religious dress are allowed within school grounds under the Equality Act 2010. However, Beech is calling for these rules to be reviewed and has launched a petition.
"We don't have a big Sikh community around the area so it's not an everyday occurrence for children. They don't know what they're dealing with," she explained.
"I know children are taught about these things but I don't think they can quite distinguish between someone wearing a knife for a religious reason or wearing it as a concealed weapon.
"It's the law so I know I haven't got a leg to stand on when I argue my case."
A spokesman for the school said: "We endeavour to work closely with our school community to support religious practices as much as possible. We very much understand that wearing the kirpan is an important part of the Sikh religion and is protected under the Equality Act 2010."
The school has engaged directly with parents to provide reassurance and information.
"We remain committed to educating our students about different faiths and cultures. We are also working with local Sikh community leaders to provide further educational opportunities to enhance understanding," the spokesperson added.
The word kirpan derives from 'kirpa' meaning mercy and 'aan' meaning honour. Kirpans are typically kept in a sheath and often worn under clothing.
The Sikh symbol in Swarn Mandir Golden temple, Amritsar, Punjab, India
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The custom dates back to 1699 when Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10th guru, created the Khalsa - the collective body of initiated Sikhs.
UK-based Sikh educational charity Everythings 13 - Basics of Sikhi explained: "It is carried by all initiated Sikhs and represents a solemn obligation to uphold the safety of humankind."
"Initiated Sikhs are expected to be Saint-Soldiers, embodying spiritual qualities while battling injustices in the world."
