This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-68731366
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Michaela School: Muslim student loses prayer ban challenge | Michaela School: Muslim student loses prayer ban challenge |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| About half the school's roughly 700 pupils are Muslim | About half the school's roughly 700 pupils are Muslim |
| A Muslim student at a London school has lost a High Court challenge against its ban on prayer rituals. | A Muslim student at a London school has lost a High Court challenge against its ban on prayer rituals. |
| Michaela School in Brent was taken to court by the girl over the policy, which was said to be discriminatory. | |
| The non-faith state secondary school previously told the High Court that allowing prayer rituals risked "undermining inclusion" between pupils. | |
| The school's founder and head teacher Katharine Birbalsingh said the ruling was a "victory for all schools". | |
| In an 83-page written judgment dismissing the student's case, Mr Justice Linden said: "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." | |
| 'Free to do what is right' | |
| About half the school's roughly 700 pupils are Muslim, the court previously heard. In March 2023, up to 30 students began praying in the school's yard, using blazers to kneel on, the High Court heard. | |
| The school introduced the ban in the same month due to concerns about a "culture shift" towards "segregation between religious groups and intimidation within the group of Muslim pupils", the court was told. | |
| The school's head teacher Katherine Birbalsingh, pictured here with Michael Gove, said it was a victory for all schools | |
| The case will be seen as upholding the right of non-religious schools to make their own decision about whether to set aside time and space for pupils to pray. | The case will be seen as upholding the right of non-religious schools to make their own decision about whether to set aside time and space for pupils to pray. |
| Ms Birbalsingh said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, that a school "should be free to do what is right for the pupils it serves". | |
| She added: "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." | |
| 'Knew the school was secular' | |
| In the legal action against the north-west London school's governing body, the Michaela Community Schools Trust, the student alleged that the ban on prayer rituals breached her right to freedom of religion. | In the legal action against the north-west London school's governing body, the Michaela Community Schools Trust, the student alleged that the ban on prayer rituals breached her right to freedom of religion. |
| The pupil, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court the rule had "fundamentally changed" how she felt "about being a Muslim in this country". | The pupil, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court the rule had "fundamentally changed" how she felt "about being a Muslim in this country". |
| The school argued its prayer policy was justified after it faced death and bomb threats linked to religious observance on site. | The school argued its prayer policy was justified after it faced death and bomb threats linked to religious observance on site. |
| Reversing prayer ban would 'expose school to risk' | |
| Pupil takes school to court over alleged prayer ban | |
| Dismissing the student's case, Mr Justice Linden said: "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." | |
| The judge upheld the student's challenge to a decision to temporarily exclude her from the school. | |
| Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: "I have always been clear that head teachers are best placed to make decisions in their school. | |
| "Michaela is an outstanding school and I hope this judgment gives all school leaders the confidence to make the right decisions for their pupils." | |
| Michaela School is a free school known for its "tiger teaching" approach. | |
| Pupils are expected to adhere to strict rules including focusing on teachers extensively during lessons and remaining silent in corridors, as well as observing restrictions on uniforms and slouching. | |
| It has received praise for producing excellent results and has an outstanding Ofsted rating. | |
| Free schools are independent of local authorities and are exempt from teaching the national curriculum. | |
| Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk | Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Free schools | Free schools |
| Brent | Brent |
| High Court | High Court |
| Muslims | Muslims |
| London | London |
| Religion | Religion |
| Wembley | Wembley |