London court upholds ban on prayer rituals at ‘Britain’s strictest school’

A Muslim pupil has lost her bid at London’s High Court to overturn a ban on prayers at her school.

The pupil took legal action against Michaela Community School in London over a policy she said was discriminatory.

The secondary school has defended its policy on the grounds that allowing prayer rituals risked “undermining inclusion” between pupils. Almost half of the school’s pupils are Muslim.

In an 83-page judgment handed down on Tuesday, Justice Thomas Linden rejected the pupil’s claim.

When she enrolled at the school, which holds to a strict secular ethos, the pupil implicitly accepted that limits would be placed on her ability to exercise her religion, the judge said.

“She knew that the school is secular and her own evidence is that her mother wished her to go there because it was known to be strict,” he added. “She herself says that, long before the prayer ritual policy was introduced, she and her friends believed that prayer was not permitted at school and she therefore made up for missed prayers when she got home.”

The case will be seen as upholding the right of non-religious schools to make their own decisions over prayers.

The school has a reputation as being the strictest in Britain. Pupils are required to attend a behaviour “boot camp” that teaches them how to walk to lessons in single file, sit properly on a chair and concentrate in class.

The school’s head teacher, Katharine Birbalsingh, has attracted a lot of media attention over the years for her outspoken views on education and “woke” culture.

In a social media post, Ms Birbalsingh praised the verdict. “A school should be free to do what is right for the pupils it serves,” she said.

“Schools should not be forced by one child and her mother to change its approach simply because they have decided they don’t like something at the school.

“If parents do not like what Michaela is, they do not need to send their children to us.”

British Education Secretary Gillian Keegan also hailed the decision. “I have always been clear that head teachers are best placed to make decisions in their school,” she said.

“Michaela is an outstanding school and I hope this judgment gives all school leaders the confidence to make the right decisions for their pupils.”

I hope this judgment gives all school leaders the confidence to make the right decisions for their pupils

GILLIAN KEEGAN

British Education Secretary