Katharine Birbalsingh – the head teacher of Michaela Community School.

Joseann

I'm interested in this. Are we all necessarily a product of our own education though? Growstuff said earlier that Birbalsingh might not be. I know I am poles apart from mine.
Maybe what I am saying is, that KB is even more passionate about her school because she wants to make change?

I was a rebel at school, but I have to admit that I am a product of my education, which was uncompromisingly academic and liberal. I wanted the same for my own children, which I found - in a state comprehensive.

When I started teaching, I found it quite difficult at first to accept that not all pupils and parents felt the same, but I persevered and reckon I have a pretty understanding of the different aims people have.

My issue with Michaela (and why I would never have sent my own children there) is that there is almost no curriculum choice. Birbalsingh has a very rigid opinion of what a curriculum should be like and it's her way or nothing. The emphasis on the basics and subjects needed for Progress 8 mean that the school's results look exemplary in league tables.

There are other ways of teaching British values. I don't know any school where the national anthem and Jerusalem are sung routinely.

Glorianny

growstuff

Grantanow

I understand that at her school the children are required to sing Gid save the King, Jerusalem and I vow to Thee my country. These all contain religious content. Some double think in all this?

Exactly!

I wonder if KB isn't as bright as she pretends?? Maybe she doesn't understand Jerusalem and Blake????

Do these not come under the heading, Fundamental British Values as part of our culture? Therefore a statutory requirement?
Rule Britannia?

The title "Community School" is perhaps the issue here. In the interests of every pupil it would be impossible to cater for the religious beliefs of everyone

I'm interested in this. Are we all necessarily a product of our own education though? Growstuff said earlier that Birbalsingh might not be. I know I am poles apart from mine.
Maybe what I am saying is, that KB is even more passionate about her school because she wants to make change?

growstuff

Grantanow

I understand that at her school the children are required to sing Gid save the King, Jerusalem and I vow to Thee my country. These all contain religious content. Some double think in all this?

Exactly!

I wonder if KB isn't as bright as she pretends?? Maybe she doesn't understand Jerusalem and Blake????

Grantanow

I understand that at her school the children are required to sing Gid save the King, Jerusalem and I vow to Thee my country. These all contain religious content. Some double think in all this?

Exactly!

Chardy

Joseann

Well that's an interesting, and pretty generous, appraisal of Birbalsingh growstuff. I think she probably has more strengths than weakness, but like all of us, maybe she tangles herself up in knots sometimes. I don't know about the schools she attended, but I like the motto Take Action and Pursue our Goals with Enthusiasm. It appears she certainly had that instilled into her!

As an aside I only have 7 O levels, that was all we were offered to take. Nearly all with top grades which possibly bears out the fact that I wasn't challenged enough. It didn't stop me, however, being accepted at 4 London Univerity colleges, so I have no issues with a reduced curriculum.

A broader education is what govt and employers desire
Most pupils, except the weakest, take 9 or 10 GCSEs from:
Maths, 2 English, 2 or 3 Science, a foreign language, a Tech subject (DT, Textiles, Food or IT), Art or Music or PE, History and/or Geography (RE?)
(IT tends to be NVQs not GCSEs)
Some are compulsory, some are in the Options

A broader education is also what Ofsted demand. Any other school would be absolutely hammered for the restricted range which Michaela offers - but it does mean there is more curriculum time for the "basics". Meanwhile, other schools offer many more subjects, including technology.

I understand that at her school the children are required to sing Gid save the King, Jerusalem and I vow to Thee my country. These all contain religious content. Some double think in all this?

Maybe schools should be similar to hospitals, airports and some public buildings with having a prayer room where all denominations may use. Catholics often need to pray at lunchtime too.

Agree. It’s made very clear when parents apply for this (oversubscribed) school

Multi faith “quiet rooms” are everywhere. Shopping malls, airports , large offices. Can’t see why it needs to be a problem to have it in a school. Refusing any religion the space/room to reflect seems very provocative. As long as the school day isn’t disrupted what’s the problem?

I wonder what the majority of pupils and parents think of this?

Probably the majority just want to get on with learning, doing their best to achieve, that is why this school was chosen in the first place as well as its policy of integration.

I would think that all this attention is detracting from what the majority of pupils and parents want from the school - a good education.

What’s the problem to set a room aside? At lunch or break times seems fine. I have seen Muslim teachers in school taking time to do their ritual praying.
People/pupils should be allowed to do what’s important to them whatever that is.
If it was a medical issue that needed attention during the day it would be accommodated, why not this?
Many places have separate prayer rooms, Airports/hospitals

I admire her!

Joseann

Well that's an interesting, and pretty generous, appraisal of Birbalsingh growstuff. I think she probably has more strengths than weakness, but like all of us, maybe she tangles herself up in knots sometimes. I don't know about the schools she attended, but I like the motto Take Action and Pursue our Goals with Enthusiasm. It appears she certainly had that instilled into her!

As an aside I only have 7 O levels, that was all we were offered to take. Nearly all with top grades which possibly bears out the fact that I wasn't challenged enough. It didn't stop me, however, being accepted at 4 London Univerity colleges, so I have no issues with a reduced curriculum.

A broader education is what govt and employers desire
Most pupils, except the weakest, take 9 or 10 GCSEs from:
Maths, 2 English, 2 or 3 Science, a foreign language, a Tech subject (DT, Textiles, Food or IT), Art or Music or PE, History and/or Geography (RE?)
(IT tends to be NVQs not GCSEs)
Some are compulsory, some are in the Options

Joseann

The custard was yucky too.

Oh yes, hard lumps (what were they?)
And a headmistress who threatened to make you eat everyone's leftovers if you let "your" table leave any gristle, lumps, foul cabbage etc.

The custard was yucky too.

I honestly can't remember what we had to eat on Fridays. The only thing I can remember about the food was that we ate a lot of gloopy stews with lumpy mashed potatoes and prunes
No disgusting tapioca and sago?

the fact it's been banned implies that it was once allowed
Funny, that's exactly what my DH said, and he's pretty sharp!!!

Well that's an interesting, and pretty generous, appraisal of Birbalsingh growstuff. I think she probably has more strengths than weakness, but like all of us, maybe she tangles herself up in knots sometimes. I don't know about the schools she attended, but I like the motto Take Action and Pursue our Goals with Enthusiasm. It appears she certainly had that instilled into her!

As an aside I only have 7 O levels, that was all we were offered to take. Nearly all with top grades which possibly bears out the fact that I wasn't challenged enough. It didn't stop me, however, being accepted at 4 London Univerity colleges, so I have no issues with a reduced curriculum.

Joseann

^any competent headteacher ought to be able to deal with it^. Well at least she is straight down the middle as she sees it on this one and sticks to her guns. I disagree with the earlier comments that she tells parents something different from her beliefs. She is transparent, not untruthful, even if somewhat arrogant and possibly misguided if she looses the case. I rather like a Head who takes pride in their convictions.

The pupil's lawyer claims she was untruthful to the governors. There is nothing in the school's official documentation about not being allowed to pray on-site, so I'm still not entirely convinced that parents know it's banned. In fact, sixth formers apparently were allowed to pray and the fact it's been banned implies that it was once allowed.

Like you, I wouldn't want to have anything to do with the school as a pupil, parent or teacher. Fortunately, parents in London do have a choice of school. I agree with you that she doesn't hide what she is. but it still doesn't mean that she is above the law and allowed to disregard the Human Rights Act or her own published policies - that's the issue here.

Birbalsingh didn't live in the UK until she was 17, so she didn't go to British schools until she was in the sixth form. I have the impression that she's trying to provide underprivileged children with a "traditional" private/grammar school education (or at least what she imagines traditional to be). Ironically (because people have accused me of criticising her), I applaud her for her aims because I think it's misguided to make excuses for underprivileged children, many of whom can achieve as well as anybody else.

I did go to a traditional, academic direct grant grammar school and I honestly can't remember what we had to eat on Fridays. The only thing I can remember about the food was that we ate a lot of gloopy stews with lumpy mashed potatoes and prunes. I'd rather eat vegetarian food any day. We didn't sing the national anthem either.

However, I think her own interpretation of traditional education is misguided, maybe because she hasn't experienced it. When I was a teacher, I was known as a bit of a dragon and it used to be extremely frustrating when poor behaviour wasn't followed up by senior management, so I'm happy she realises that good behaviour is a precursor to effective learning.

Nevertheless, I find it intensely irritating that Birbalsingh is forever boasting that her school is exceptional. It really isn't. There are other schools with exemplary discipline - and this current issue shows that it's not quite so perfect as she claims. I don't knock the pupils' attainment, but she does "game" the system. The government only looks at 8 GCSEs when it issues its statistics. I can't remember the exact formula, but English and Maths count for more than other subjects, so at Michaela pupils are taught these two subjects for double the time most other schools do. The choice of subjects is restricted, There is no IT, Design and Technology or Drama. Music is only taught for the first two years (no GCSE), only one foreign language is offered, pupils can't take GCSEs in Geograpy and History and they can't take three Science GCSEs. They take a maximum of 8 GCSEs (the ones which count in the league table). Maybe that's fine for the majority of pupils and there are certainly people who support that kind of "back to basics" curriculum. However, it doesn't challenge the most able, who are perfectly capable of achieving top grades in 11 or 12 GCSEs, nor does it offer a foundation for pupils who might want to take practical, vocational courses post 16, which many GN posters advocate.

Finally, I actually met Birbalsingh many years ago. She's extremely energetic and charismatic. She was a French teacher and I've seen videos of her in the classroom and there's no doubt she was inspirational.

any competent headteacher ought to be able to deal with it. Well at least she is straight down the middle as she sees it on this one and sticks to her guns. I disagree with the earlier comments that she tells parents something different from her beliefs. She is transparent, not untruthful, even if somewhat arrogant and possibly misguided if she looses the case. I rather like a Head who takes pride in their convictions.

Joseann

^with traditional fish on Fridays^
What's to say she doesn't just mean cod and haddock, as opposed to non-traditional John Dory and bass that Rick Stein serves up in Padstow?
It states traditional (adjective) fish, not fish that is traditionally served on Fridays. It could be argued that way.

Possibly, but not in the context of everything else Birbalsingh has ever said (and she says it often) about tradition.