Katharine Birbalsingh – the head teacher of Michaela Community School.

I don't know. I am not a religious person. But if a child came to me asking for permission or a space to pray I would consider very carefully how that could reasonably be accommodated. Being secular can for some people become a matter of domination and discrimination. After all isn't that what communism did in Russia? The idea that people can just be made to surrender their religion at the door of a school just doesn't work. It's about finding ways of managing that so all people feel valued whatever their faith or lack of it.

Joseann

Good post * Dickens*.
Accusations against KB of discrimination or Islamophobia or prejudice are really not helpful.
I think this Headmistress deserves admiration.

The whole point is that she is totally without prejudice and the ethos of the school is equality, tolerance and kindness for all.

I agree Joseann she does deserve admiration.

As an aside, Independent schools do not have to have a daily act of worship because theyare not covered by Education Acts. The regulations do not apply.

Good post * Dickens*.
Accusations against KB of discrimination or Islamophobia or prejudice are really not helpful.
I think this Headmistress deserves admiration.

I think the wording is something like "mainly of a broadly Christian character", Callistemon. But then there's "following a christian ethos" with a small c too. So a general group chat about say charity and generosity would also count, and be acceptable to all faiths.

GrannyGravy13

VioletSky

Claiming a whole demographic looks bad because of the actions of a few is also bullying, it's just one people find easier to justify

The huge amount of innocent people who have suffered because of this mentality is staggering

A rather silly post with no substance.

The innocent who have suffered are those in receipt of bomb threats, bricks through windows along with Muslim students who have been othered by more radical followers of Islam.

The head has gone to great lengths to treat all students equally.

The head has gone to great lengths to treat all students equally.

Quite.

Whatever accusations are levelled at this woman, I don't think anyone can doubt that she is genuinely trying to provide an inclusive educational environment where all the students can flourish to the best of their ability.

One can disagree with her methods, or some of her very strict codes of behaviour demanded from the children, but I do not believe for one minute that she has a discriminatory bone in her body. Whichever group had attempted to break away from the policies and culture of the school, I am sure she would've acted in exactly the same way.

Muslim children being bullied by non-Muslim children, or Muslim children being bullied by other Muslim children - it is all bullying and I believe she took the steps she did in the best interests of all the students.

It would appear that this is not really about one child feeling alienated as a Muslim; there was an online campaign against the school, a concerted effort to undermine her and its values and characteristic spirit.

These sort of things have happened before in schools, over different issues.

I hope that the Court will soon give a ruling because the reputation of this school has made it a high-profile case and it is very disruptive to all the pupils who will now be focusing on the matter instead of getting on with their education.

Of course, we don't yet know all the circumstances surrounding this case, this ban - as I said earlier, it's very difficult to get a purely factual report of the event or the events leading up to the ban.

The Court will consider all the facts, all the information that it has in front of it, and come to a decision. Meanwhile, accusations against KB of discrimination or Islamophobia or prejudice are really not helpful.

... and I'm not sure at all what VS is driving at with her randomly scattered comments.

Joseann

Galaxy

There is no legal requirement to have a prayer room.
The discussion within the case is also covering whether a school can be truly secular, it will be interesting whether than concept clashes with the equality act, I dont think the collective worship requirement would stop a school aiming to be secular would it? Would a discussion on values relating to love, caring etc meet that requirement? The word worship is a funny one, how is that defined within the law?

Yes, you can sing a song together as a group, and that counts as a form of collective worship within the school environment.

Is the majority of collective assembly (ie 51%) supposed to be Christian-based?

Not that most schools take much notice now.

Thanks Joseann, that's helpful.

Dickens

VioletSky

Bullying is and always will be wrong but as soon as you decide or stand by and allow certain bullying because it pleases you... Then you become what you claim to hate

There never is and never will be any justification for that...

Worse in this case because there are adults on this thread and it is a thread about children

Bullying is and always will be wrong but as soon as you decide or stand by and allow certain bullying because it pleases you... Then you become what you claim to hate

Who is this "you" that you are referring to VS?

Who is allowing certain bullying because "it pleases them"?

Worse in this case because there are adults on this thread and it is a thread about children

If you must make allegations of - well, whatever it is that you are accusing people of - why not address the particular posters specifically, instead of throwing out these comments to all and sundry?

I've not seen any posters who are debating this seriously, suggesting that bullying is OK, ever.

I really do not understand what Violetsky is trying to say.

I've tried to fathom it but sorry, it seems to be an argument against the ethos of the school yet at the same time defending the right to stamp out bullying, which is what the Head and teachers were trying to do.

🤔

VioletSky

Claiming a whole demographic looks bad because of the actions of a few is also bullying, it's just one people find easier to justify

The huge amount of innocent people who have suffered because of this mentality is staggering

A rather silly post with no substance.

The innocent who have suffered are those in receipt of bomb threats, bricks through windows along with Muslim students who have been othered by more radical followers of Islam.

The head has gone to great lengths to treat all students equally.

VioletSky

I am primarily talking to those who read honestly

And I think I've said what needed to be said now

... yes, well. Whatever

Galaxy

There is no legal requirement to have a prayer room.
The discussion within the case is also covering whether a school can be truly secular, it will be interesting whether than concept clashes with the equality act, I dont think the collective worship requirement would stop a school aiming to be secular would it? Would a discussion on values relating to love, caring etc meet that requirement? The word worship is a funny one, how is that defined within the law?

Yes, you can sing a song together as a group, and that counts as a form of collective worship within the school environment.

There's nothing to suggest that KB isn't sympathetic to and accommodating of different religions. It seems she is prepared to make adjustments if needed because I read, (Ofsted report or the school's prospectus?), that the Headmistress may grant exceptions where this is required as a matter of sincere religious observance. I think it said she had communication with leaders of the local religious community.

I am primarily talking to those who read honestly

And I think I've said what needed to be said now

VioletSky

Bullying is and always will be wrong but as soon as you decide or stand by and allow certain bullying because it pleases you... Then you become what you claim to hate

There never is and never will be any justification for that...

Worse in this case because there are adults on this thread and it is a thread about children

Bullying is and always will be wrong but as soon as you decide or stand by and allow certain bullying because it pleases you... Then you become what you claim to hate

Who is this "you" that you are referring to VS?

Who is allowing certain bullying because "it pleases them"?

Worse in this case because there are adults on this thread and it is a thread about children

If you must make allegations of - well, whatever it is that you are accusing people of - why not address the particular posters specifically, instead of throwing out these comments to all and sundry?

I've not seen any posters who are debating this seriously, suggesting that bullying is OK, ever.

JaneJudge

Presumably the pupils have a right to exercise their own choices though, it is part of taking responsibility and growing into a fully functioning human being

But does that not include the right to withdraw and attend a different school if they’re not prepared to accept the rules and regulations of this one ? Exercising choice is one thing, bullying tactics to get your own way is quite another, and not something I would want a child of mine to think is in any way acceptable.

There is no legal requirement to have a prayer room.
The discussion within the case is also covering whether a school can be truly secular, it will be interesting whether than concept clashes with the equality act, I dont think the collective worship requirement would stop a school aiming to be secular would it? Would a discussion on values relating to love, caring etc meet that requirement? The word worship is a funny one, how is that defined within the law?

VioletSky

GrannyGravy13

Unfortunately Islam is at this moment being shown as an intolerant faith.

Tolerance like respect should be equal and fair to all.

It's there

So you deny that Islam is an intolerant faith ? Bomb threats, bricks through teachers windows ? Parents have other choices as to where to school their children without resorting to bullying tactics to get what they want.

Presumably the pupils have a right to exercise their own choices though, it is part of taking responsibility and growing into a fully functioning human being

VioletSky

Claiming a whole demographic looks bad because of the actions of a few is also bullying, it's just one people find easier to justify

The huge amount of innocent people who have suffered because of this mentality is staggering

But VS,
who has claimed a whole demographic looks bad-apart from you mentioning it?
I asked for your evidence for this before.

VioletSky

Always the same people who use or ignore this tactic of using one example to reflect badly on a group

I'm sure the excuses and justifications will come as well as the oats on the back

It's very sad honestly and very opposed to what we should be teaching children

What should we be teaching then ? Because you seem to be saying it’s fine for one religious group to go completely against what the school is trying to achieve, in order to get what they want. And with added threats too. There was a bomb threat communicated by email and some teachers had their homes attacked. Does this give you any sense of integration ?

I found this passage from Spiked which is a much abbreviated summary of the ethos of Michaela School. The interview with KB to which I linked earlier goes into greater depth of her belief in discipline and that a multi-cultural country such as ours needs to integrate more and not divide along racial or religious lines if it is to flourish.

Michaela’s focus has always been on integration. At lunchtime, the school canteen serves only vegetarian food, so all faiths can eat together. The unity of the school community is elevated above the feelings of any one group. As Birbalsingh points out, this means everyone makes compromises. Christian families put up with revision classes on a Sunday. Pupils who are Jehovah’s Witnesses must study Macbeth alongside other students (they are usually forbidden from reading texts that feature magic).

In this way, the school becomes an important buffer against an outside world divided by cultural and religious identities. Inside, children can follow their intellectual and creative interests free from the pressures to conform to group demands. At Michaela, children are pupils first and members of religious and racial communities second.

In the video interview I linked to she states that Muslim parents have always been informed there is no prayer room and that has been a compromise they've been prepared to accept so their child can attend this high achieving school.

Claiming a whole demographic looks bad because of the actions of a few is also bullying, it's just one people find easier to justify

The huge amount of innocent people who have suffered because of this mentality is staggering

Bullying is and always will be wrong but as soon as you decide or stand by and allow certain bullying because it pleases you... Then you become what you claim to hate
No one on here has claimed to support the bullying.
That’s exactly what is trying to be prevented at the school. The head is trying to prevent bullying but the parents are supporting the right of the child to get what she wants even if it is by bullying.
If you support that then you become what you claim to hate.