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

Good. At what cost to the taxpayer though?

Do tell please

Sorry didn’t have specs on, great news

From The Telegraph just now:

“ The High Court has ruled a prayer ban at Katharine Birbalsingh’s school is lawful.

Ms Birbalsingh, who founded Michaela Community School, said she introduced the prayer ban in March last year “against a backdrop of events including violence, intimidation and appalling racial harassment of our teachers”.

A Muslim pupil, who cannot be named, claimed the prayer policy was discriminatory and “uniquely” affects her faith.

Michaela school, in Brent, north-west London, was ranked top in the country last year for “Progress 8”, a measure of how much a secondary school has helped pupils improve since primary school.

Its strict rules include silence in corridors, pupils ending every interaction with teachers with “sir” or “miss”, and a tracking system whereby pupils “must pay constant attention” during lessons.

High Court rules ban lawful
In an 83-page judgment dismissing the student’s case, Mr Justice Linden said: “It seems to me that this is a case ... where the claimant at the very least impliedly accepted, when she enrolled at the school, that she would be subject to restrictions on her ability to manifest her religion.

“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.

“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.”

Crossed posting Urms I just updated the original post.

I hope whichever lefty lawyer has been acting for her isn’t frantically looking for grounds to appeal. They’re not known for accepting defeat.

Thank you , hope there isn’t an appeal or gathering outside the school

Good. Religion should play no part in a state education. If parents wish for their children to have a religious education, they should be prepared to pay for it.

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

Thanks Urmstongran for sharing the Telegraph's piece on this.

It's very good news and Ms. Birbalsingh must be thrilled and relieved.

Yay indeed

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.
👏👏👏

I didnt realise that schools like this existed anymore, I can only applaud their standards, it sounds like my school half a century ago.

Common sense prevails at long last !

Good, as long as she is fair about prayer rituals to all religions that's fine.

Joseann

Good, as long as she is fair about prayer rituals to all religions that's fine.

Yes. But great to hear of a secondary school with such high strict standards.

If only more were like that.

School standards are usually set by the person at the top, and filter down. Not all heads have KB's guts!

Common sense at last 👍

More from The Telegraph:

Pupil who brought challenge ‘very disappointed’
The pupil who brought the legal challenge said in a statement provided by law firm Simpson Millar: “I am obviously very disappointed that the judge did not agree with me.

“As is set out in the judgment, I do not agree that it would be too hard for the school to accommodate pupils who wished to pray in the lunch break.

“The school is very well run and generally very good at managing everything. The school doesn’t wish to allow pupils to pray, has chosen a different path and the judge has found in their favour.

“Even though I lost, I still feel that I did the right thing in seeking to challenge the ban. I tried my best and was true to myself and my religion.

“Being involved in this case has not been easy for me ... The teachers are very good here and I hope to do the best that I can. I am also grateful for the understanding that my non-Muslim friends at school have shown as to the issues that affect us.”

“Pupil’s mother ‘profoundly dismayed’ by outcome
The pupil’s mother said she was “profoundly dismayed by the case’s outcome”.

In a comment issued by law firm Simpson Millar, she said: “The case was rooted in the understanding that prayer isn’t just a desirable act for us - it’s an essential element that shapes our lives as Muslims.

“In our faith, prayer holds undeniable importance, guiding us through each challenge with strength and faith.”

She added: “My daughter’s impassioned stance compelled me to support her and I stand firm in that decision.

“Her courage in pursuing this matter fills me with pride and I’m confident she’s gained invaluable lessons from the experience.”

Yeah right mum.
You knew the score when you enrolled your daughter. You took a punt here.

The mother and daughter knew exactly what they were doing when they selected the school, and in later bringing this challenge to the school's ethos.
These challenges won't end here, unfortunately.

Cossy

Joseann

Good, as long as she is fair about prayer rituals to all religions that's fine.

Yes. But great to hear of a secondary school with such high strict standards.

It’s a secular school.