Katharine Birbalsingh: Headteacher’s prayer ban ‘lawful’ ...The Standard podcast

Click this link to find The Standard podcast on Apple, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts: https://lnk.to/s1eXPw A high court judge has ruled that a prayer ban at one of the highest-performing state schools in England run by ‘Britain’s strictest headteacher’ - was not unlawful. Katharine Birbalsingh, who founded Michaela Community School, a free school in Brent, said she introduced the prayer ban in March last year, “against a backdrop of events including violence, intimidation and appalling racial harassment of teachers”. A Muslim pupil, who cannot be named, claimed the prayer policy was discriminatory and breached their right to religious freedom. Following the decision, Birbalsingh said in a post on social media that the ruling was a "victory for all schools". The Evening Standard’s Education Editor Anna Davis shares her insight and analysis. You can listen to the episode in the player above, find us on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the Evening Standard: https://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-Evening-Standard for latest breaking news from the UK, US and around the world, plus podcasts and features. Evening Standard on socials: Check out our full video catalog: https://www.youtube.com/c/LondonEveningStandard/videos Videos, daily editorial and more: https://www.standard.co.uk/ Like us on Facebook: https://www.fb.com/eveningstandard Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/eveningstandard and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evening.standard