Prayer ban at Katharine Birbalsingh’s school is lawful, High Court rules .

But Michaela isn't an inner city school like you mention Glorianny. I am familiar with Wembley and it isn't a deprived area. It's pretty much suburbia, until recently it came under Middlesex, and has parks, shops, restaurants and cafés. KB's school doesn't draw from inner city areas like say Leeds or Hull. The children aren't disadvantaged in the true sense. I wouldn't mind guessing that the parents, all from diverse backgounds, who choose Michaela School set great store by a good education. That is their main objective.

I’m all for freedom to worship whatever deity one chooses as long as doing so does not impinge on others freedom to adhere to other religions or none, as the case may be.

But I think in Britain it has taken a long time to dawn on the department for education, that people can be good citizens without singing “All Things Bright And Beautiful” and saying The Lords Prayer en masse every school day…. However I do not see how silence in corridors and insisting that all spoken interactions between pupil/students and teachers must end with Mrs/Mr/Miss - yes indeed (what about Ms.) why is this the benchmark for what constitutes a modern day education? And why are modern day parents queuing up to get it for their children.

Yes Wyllow it would. It’s a tough one because generally children in faith schools ie RC, C of E and the Jewish schools down the road do well. We have a number of Muslim schools on our town which have done badly in Ofsted
Muslim parents locally often choose RC or CofE schools because of academic and discipline success

If they are equipped to deal with the real world where everything will not be regulated and regimented.

Does your vision for their real world incorporate acceptance of lies as truth?

What does your regulated and regimented mean? How would your unregulated and unregimented world differ?
Does your vision for their real world incorporate acceptance of lies as truth? Does it mean only following the rules you like, regardless of the law?

Good to hear about that multi faith teaching, Iam.

But logically, cutting out faith schools would include C or E and Catholic and Jewish schools?

I confess to having selected the local C of E high school for my daughters. I knew all the local schools well because of work. I liked their pastoral care, sports, drama, music as well as academic focus. All pupils did RE at GCSE. They studied comparative religions and were encouraged to debate

Two of my grandchildren attend Catholic primary school in their village - their mum a primary teacher looked at the three possible schools and chose this one - wisely imo it’s a family focus school. The children learn about all faiths whilst working in a Christian Catholic faith environment. Teaching seems good but the warmth and friendliness is evident to us grannies

So - our family chose what we felt was right for our children. We didn’t then start making demands

I do worry that the growth of Muslim schools increases separation . If we were able to end faith schools wiukd that help

I'm not quite sure how you stop children praying if they decide they are going to do it. I don't think this will be the end of the matter.
I'm afraid if she has the children singing Christmas carols she will have lost the secular argument in the eyes of many. Carols are undoubtedly Christian in nature and she may think it's cultural but others won't.

I did catch the deleted post, but I was concentrating specifically on the school aspect at the time, and I don’t think it was about that, so it didn't register with me. It went in a flash.

That post was a question for Glorianny

If they are equipped to deal with the real world

It always puzzles me exactly what some people's definition of 'the real world' is.
For some it is a life in academia
For others joining HM Forces
A life working in medicine
Others might become recycling operatives.
Others aid workers

So many different real worlds for different people

Please could you define 'real world'?

I wish I could agree. It depends on who has reported, in my experience. Some reporters seem to have more clout than others.

I hope that controversy on this particular school doesn't stop what I know happens in my grandchildren's primary school - all the major faith days are marked in a pleasant way with a light touch that is inclusive multi-culturally.

What I think might be at risk is the good teaching that replaced "RE" - ie learning a bit about other cultures and faiths.

petra

Gloryannie
not preparing her pupils etc

Watch this if can bring yourself too.

www.google.com/search?q=Kathryn+Babsingh+%2B+prepares+children+for+life&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:1083fdea,vid:cHldG8Aomyc,st:0

I started but I have heard her before. If most inner city schools could be as small as the school she runs, if they could have the large numbers of staff they could do exactly what she has done but better. They could have a wide curriculum which caters for students who have abilities in the arts and improve all children's chances. As it is they are struggling in huge schools where disadvantaged children are lost and not surprisingly misbehave or drop out.
She hasn't worked some miracle, She has chosen her children carefully, restricted the curriculum, appointed lots of staff and not surprisingly those children have passed the exams. If they are equipped to deal with the real world where everything will not be regulated and regimented. If they have been taught to think and problem solve is another question.

I missed the deleted post, pity.

It must have been quite something looking at some of the other, rather spiteful posts on this thread that still remain!

I think the moderators on GN have a pretty light touch actually.

pascal30

she said today that God save the King is cultural not religious

God comes in many guises.
God Save the King is an anthem, not a hymn.

Why would a secular school sing hymns? Hold Christmas carol concerts? 🤔

Urmstongran

Sigh.

The Twitter post from Birbalsingh is worth reading. Apparently the mother of the vexatious child is planning another legal challenge against the school on a different matter.

This one cost the tax payer £150k in legal aid, and she is also planning on sending her other daughter there, so clearly doesn’t hate the school that much.
Honestly, words fail me that we allow this to happen.

and she is also planning on sending her other daughter there, so clearly doesn’t hate the school that much.

The school could refuse her a place.

Troublemakers can be expelled.

Mollygo

Germanshepherdsmum

Exactly. You don’t choose a school for its methods and then try to change the rules to suit your own minority wishes.

This.
👏👏👏

Exactly
👍

I couldn’t agree more.

I didn’t see the deleted post but I really wish people would stop all this reporting nonsense. Fgs let others have their say!

I agreed with biglouis’s post but obviously someone else reported it. When in Rome ..

I just caught the end of a report on this case on Sky News. A Muslim man was talking about his ‘right to pray’. This is, I think, just the beginning despite the girl having said she could say extra prayers after school (and, I expect, before).

And, of course, I meant secular. Predictive text…..aargh! 🙄

Non faith schools should be like France. Totally non secular. 🤷‍♀️

Other than that, go to a faith based school.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Gloryannie
not preparing her pupils etc

Watch this if can bring yourself too.

www.google.com/search?q=Kathryn+Babsingh+%2B+prepares+children+for+life&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:1083fdea,vid:cHldG8Aomyc,st:0