Katharine Birbalsingh – the head teacher of Michaela Community School.

Having a family home in an overwhelming Catholic Country, my parents sent their children to a secular international school as opposed to the local state school which had a catholic ethos.

It’s like joining a golf club and then trying by threats of violence to change the rules of the game.

I read that Urmstongran sounds like a teenager having a strop that is escalating with threats added in for good measure.

Probably best if the parents of TTT find a faith school for their daughter if she is that strict in her religious beliefs. Obviously a secular school that they enrolled her in is no longer fulfilling her pastoral needs.

That is so true VioletSky.
If an act of basically Christian worship is required how can any UK school regard itself as totally secular.?
And how can any parent know that the legal requirement of a collective act of worship "is largely ignored"? So how can it be unreasonable for a Muslim parent to ask that the act of collective worship be balanced by providing space for Muslim prayers?
The Act requires
The nature of the required daily act of collective worship in England and Wales is set out in Schedule 20 of the School Standards and Framework Act.[6] This defines collective worship as "a single act of worship for all pupils" or separate acts of worship for groups of pupils. It should normally take place on school premises. The nature of the acts of worship should take into account the ages, aptitudes and family backgrounds of the pupils.
Which means with a large proportion of Muslim pupils the school was required to make provision for them.

From the Telegraph:

“ A Muslim pupil taking Katharine Birbalsingh to court over a prayer ban was suspended last year for allegedly threatening to stab another child.

The pupil at Michaela Community School in Wembley, north-west London, has launched a High Court challenge to the school’s prayer ban, which she claims is discriminatory.

Michaela, a free school founded by Ms Birbalsingh in 2014, is one of the top-performing state schools in the country and is rated “outstanding” by Ofsted.

Court papers state that the pupil, who cannot be named, was suspended for five days last year for threatening to stab another pupil.

According to the school’s lawyers, the pupil accepted that she had said to another pupil: “If you tell anyone I will stab you”.

The pupil then refused to say what she had said to the other pupil before making the threat, according to the school.

Court documents referred to a behaviour record for the pupil, known as TTT to protect her anonymity, which stated: “TTT was speaking negatively about the school and her plans to ‘destroy it’.

“She said it would involve fewer people than last time. She then threatened another girl by saying she would stab her if the girl said anything about it.”

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

The answer to children being intolerant has never and will never be adults setting an example of intolerance

That's backwards logic entirely

Katharine Birbalsingh has not resigned as Head of the school Correct.

The daily collective worship can be as simple as a time of reflection on all sorts of issues. It can be done in small groups in any area of the school.
It's up to the individual Head if they want to arrange a special "prayer" room.

Glorianny

I do wonder how KB managed to keep her school secular. UK law still requires an act of collective worship usually of a basically Christian nature.

In March 2021, Sir John Hayes (Conservative MP for South Holland and the Deepings) asked the Government what steps the Department for Education was taking to ensure daily acts of worship were being conducted in maintained schools. Nick Gibb, Minister of State at the Department for Education, responded:
Every maintained school, academy and free school is required to ensure that collective worship takes place each day. If the department is informed that a school may be in breach of this requirement, it will be investigated. Where needed, the department will remind schools of their duty on this matter and advise on how this can be met.

Surely them the provision of a prayer space for other religions would promote more equality.

As an ex- Head Teacher surely you know that is largely ignored and that OFSTED turns a blind eye to it?
Unlike other areas

AGAA4

Excellent post Dickens

Yes, well said Dickens
My own opinion is that this child is being groomed by the parents who are quite possibly from a conservative Islamic community and might even be encouraged by their community leaders to make this challenge to the school. Are there not zealots in all faiths - including the Christian faith - who attempt to impose their cultural / political worldview /agenda on society?

Yes, in all probability that is what is happening. If the child and parents win this case it would be a victory for religious intolerance.

In this country, unlike others, parents are at liberty to choose a school for their child where their faith can be practised.
Michaela Community School is not one of those schools.

Katharine Birbalsingh has not resigned as Head of the school, can't remember who posted that, sorry. She has resigned her post as the UK Government’s Social Mobility Head.

But the dfe stated quite recently that prayer spaces arent a legal requirement so whether there is a prayer space or not wont be part of this legal case I wouldnt have thought, it will more be about whether a ban on prayer (if that's what happened, as Dickens says accurate info is quite hard to pin down) fits within equality legislation.

Collective worship, not possible

I do wonder how KB managed to keep her school secular. UK law still requires an act of collective worship usually of a basically Christian nature.

In March 2021, Sir John Hayes (Conservative MP for South Holland and the Deepings) asked the Government what steps the Department for Education was taking to ensure daily acts of worship were being conducted in maintained schools. Nick Gibb, Minister of State at the Department for Education, responded:
Every maintained school, academy and free school is required to ensure that collective worship takes place each day. If the department is informed that a school may be in breach of this requirement, it will be investigated. Where needed, the department will remind schools of their duty on this matter and advise on how this can be met.

Surely them the provision of a prayer space for other religions would promote more equality.

Tolerance like respect should be equal and fair to all

That sounds very sensible and would make the world a better place altogether GrannyGravy

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

Oh yes some of the children have shown real tolerance of others in that school. They have shown a great tolerance towards their peers, bullying, threatening, not. Is it any wonder that people get sick and tired of certain minorities trying to bully and threaten their way to changing our culture to suit theirs. Remember the beheaded teacher, the teacher still having to hide, I do not tolerate bullying, do you.

Excellent post Dickens

The way I understood it was that the school is very strict, students are supervised at all times and given topics for discussion at break and lunch times. The student body is culturally and religiously diverse and are not allowed to gather in groups of more than four, to discourage groups of one faith or culture from keeping to themselves.

The idea is that if multiculturalism is to work, then different cultures can’t isolate themselves and everyone learns from everyone else. They have even made the school lunches totally vegetarian so that all students can partake of everything on offer.

Under Birbalsingh, the school’s results improved massively. Then a group of Muslim students began to gather in large groups, using their blazers as prayer mats during Ramadan and it’s alleged that they were discouraging other students from taking part in things like music and choir practice because it’s frowned upon.. When this was challenged by teachers a student argued the toss and was suspended. She and her parents are now bringing a lawsuit against the school for, among other things, creating a hostile environment preventing her from practising her religion.

Birbalsingh had resigned before the prayer issue arose but she now has to justify her stance in the High Court, even though it was even handed and with the best of intentions towards the spirit of full integration. I think this is a perfect example of no good deed going unpunished. The world has gone utterly mad.

Galaxy

Yes but often a legal case helps clarify the law rather than organisation or the public making assumptions that they understand the law (they often dont). It happened with the Forstater case.
So this may clarify the situation either way. There is no legal obligations to provide prayer rooms for example. It's often useful to have these issues clarified for everyone's sake. I say this whichever way it goes.

I think it would be really useful if schools knew exactly what their obligations were in respect of the needs and demands of parents / pupils of ALL faiths (and none) / cultures. It isn't just about prayer rooms, it's about dress-codes, diets, relationships between the sexes, , observance of religious rituals on certain holy / holidays - most religions and cultures I assume have a view on these matters. So yes, it does need legal clarification.

From what I can gather KB is well aware of the conflicts caused by differing religious beliefs and, rightly or wrongly, thought the best way of solving the matter and making multiculturalism 'work' was to have a kind of 'melting pot' where every pupil (and parent) 'subsumed' their religious identity (in the school environment) for the good of all so that the students could develop and reach their full potential as human beings, regardless of their heritage or religion.

I'm not going to drone on about the mechanics of the thing but logically, it does make sense - if we are talking about education. We know that schools have a duty towards pastoral care, but in essence, this really is about education.

As long as all parents from all faiths have a choice of schools, then a legally binding law would make the life of schools and teachers a lot easier. And maybe this kind of challenge could be prevented.

As for this particular case - everyone knows that Islamophobia and bigotry exists. But I'm pretty sure that accusations of it are also sometimes quite unfounded. No-one likes to be accused of xenophobia, bigotry, racism, Islamophobia and so we tip-toe over eggshells sometimes wary of speaking out. Well, I'm not going to do that. If this pupil at Michaela genuinely feels that the ban has "fundamentally changed" how she feels "about being a Muslim in this country" then let it be addressed. Because, yes - there is anti-Muslim sentiment in this country, it certainly does exist. It is also reported in the media that Muslim children were being bullied by other pupils - whether that was simply because they are Muslims, or because they decided to pray in the playground, I've no idea. So let's hear about it. I'd also like to hear from other Muslim students who are allegedly happy in the school and who, according to KB, have a positive experience in it.

My own opinion is that this child is being groomed by the parents who are quite possibly from a conservative Islamic community and might even be encouraged by their community leaders to make this challenge to the school. Are there not zealots in all faiths - including the Christian faith - who attempt to impose their cultural / political worldview /agenda on society?

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

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

I agree 100% with Urmstongram! This is an outstanding school and the no prayer ban extends to all faiths. The head went for vegetarian meals so as not to offend Muslims, Hindus or Jews. It is a SECULAR school. Go elsewhere if your sensibilities are offended.

VioletSky

The mere fact that anyone would write off an entire faith based on the actions of a few is surely proof of discrimination?

... who has done that?

Someone in the media - on here?

I admit I have not read all the posts.

Yes and the same girl was caught threatening to stab another girl last year in the school so I don’t think it’s got any thing to do with prays and if you come to live in our country and go to our schools you should respect how we live and do things school is for learning not praying and most of the country support this head teacher hopefully she doesn’t have to go into hiding like that other teacher did.

Yes but often a legal case helps clarify the law rather than organisation or the public making assumptions that they understand the law (they often dont). It happened with the Forstater case.
So this may clarify the situation either way. There is no legal obligations to provide prayer rooms for example. It's often useful to have these issues clarified for everyone's sake. I say this whichever way it goes.

VioletSky

The mere fact that anyone would write off an entire faith based on the actions of a few is surely proof of discrimination?

Has this happened on here VS?
Could you point out where?
Discrimination as we well know is a two way action. But I haven’t seen that either.