Headteacher celebrates court ruling upholding Muslim prayer ban as a victory

Key Takeaways:

Headteacher Katharine Birbalsingh of Michaela School in Wembley, North London, hails a recent court ruling upholding her ban on Muslim prayer as a victory for all schools.

Background:

Katharine Birbalsingh banned prayer rituals at her school to prevent division among children. Founded in 2014, Michaela School is a non-faith school that focuses on discipline and has achieved some of the best GCSE results.

The Ruling:

A Muslim pupil at the school challenged the ban, claiming it uniquely affected her faith. However, the High Court dismissed her claim, with the judge stating that the pupil had accepted restrictions on religious practices upon enrollment.

Reaction and Support:

Following the ruling, Birbalsingh emphasized the importance of schools being able to make decisions that serve their pupils. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and former Home Secretary Suella Braverman supported the decision, highlighting the autonomy of school heads in setting policies.