header-logo header-logo

Prayer time prohibition

14 June 2024 / Nicholas Dobson
Issue: 8075 / Categories: Features , In Court , Human rights , Education
printer mail-detail
177053
Nicholas Dobson considers the key issues in the Michaela Community School prayer dispute
  • It was not unlawful for the Michaela Community Schools Trust to prohibit pupils from performing prayer rituals on its premises.

According to Ofsted, Michaela Community School (a secular secondary free school for boys and girls in Wembley, London Borough of Brent) is outstanding. A school where: ‘Staff are driven by a shared commitment to giving pupils an excellent education, pupils rise to the challenges set by leaders and take their education seriously.’ Ofsted also found the school to be ‘very well led and managed’, with pupil behaviour exemplary and academic results exceptionally good.

The school was founded in 2014 by its headteacher, Katharine Birbalsingh, who estimates that 90% of its pupils are from ethnic minority backgrounds. And while half of the pupils are Muslim, the school also has large numbers of Sikh, Hindu and Christian pupils, broadly in line with the demographic profile of the school’s catchment area.

According to Birbalsingh, ‘a great part of the school’s success

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Tech companies will be legally required to prevent material that encourages or assists serious self-harm appearing on their platforms, under Online Safety Act 2023 regulations due to come into force in the autumn
Commercial leasehold, the defence of insanity and ‘consent’ in the criminal law are among the next tranche of projects for the Law Commission
The Bar has a culture of ‘impunity’ and ‘collusive bystanding’ in which making a complaint is deemed career-ending due to a ‘cohort of untouchables’ at the top, Baroness Harriet Harman KC has found
Lawyers have broadly welcomed plans to electronically tag up to 22,000 more offenders, scrap most prison terms below a year and make prisoners ‘earn’ early release
David Lammy, Ellie Reeves and Baroness Levitt have taken up office at the Ministry of Justice, following the cabinet reshuffle
back-to-top-scroll