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

Germanshepherdsmum

You might get irritated by the lefty lawyer comments HPQ, but I make them from the standpoint of having been a practising solicitor for many years. The sort of solicitors who take on these cases are a world away from any that I ever knew.

Yes, I expect they are.

So does being secular mean that a school shouldn't sing God save the King, Jerusalem, Christmas carols etc? Wouldn't bother me but may bother the anti wokes.

she said today that God save the King is cultural not religious

CoolCoco

So does being secular mean that a school shouldn't sing God save the King, Jerusalem, Christmas carols etc? Wouldn't bother me but may bother the anti wokes.

Is it "woke" now to think that songs written about Jesus Christ and those that mention God are religious and not secular? I always thought the difference was quite clear, and nothing at all to do with opinion.

Joseann

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

Well yes she is. So there.

pascal30

she said today that God save the King is cultural not religious

I'd heard she was a bit loony, but honestly_God_ is cultural and not religious. Presumably Allah is different.

Rockyroad

Glorianny

I don't want to go over old ground but this school's claims to be secular are questionable. I don't think this will finish here. I'm not sure how a High court ban will be enforced in the school. Will children pray in the playground again? Will teachers have to stop them"
Compromise is always a better solution than legal rulings. It isn't something Kathleen Birbalsingh is known for.

No, she’s known as a fantastic Head Teacher whose school gets brilliant results.

She also known as someone who uses an incredibly limited curriculum to obtain the results she does and is criticised for not preparing children in any way to deal with the problems they will meet in the world outside school

The ‘lefty lawyer’ trope is pathetic, IMO.

With regard to this case, it highlights just how divisive religion is - and I mean all religions! For something that purports to promote love, harmony, etc religion isn’t doing very well anywhere in the world!

Britain is one of the most secular countries in the world with many people having little or no religion.
To be truly secular Christian hymns and carols should not be a part of the school day.

It doesn’t mean she’s an atheist. She’s obviously a royalist.

I f you find the expression pathetic, Lizzie, perhaps you could come up with a suitable alternative?

She also known as someone who uses an incredibly limited curriculum to obtain the results she does and is criticised for not preparing children in any way to deal with the problems they will meet in the world outside school and yet her school is oversubscribed I believe, and the mother of this girl wants to enrol her other daughter too. Are you questioning this mother's and all the other parents' intelligence and judgement?

Personally I wouldn't have sent any of my children there because I'm not convinced the level of discipline enforced is totally necessary. I do admire the ethos of the mealtimes and encouraging children of all religions and none to mix, not hive off into separate groups.

Most religions have a supreme being or "God" so there is nothing wrong in
"God save the King."

Germanshepherdsmum

I f you find the expression pathetic, Lizzie, perhaps you could come up with a suitable alternative?

I suggest the word lawyer.

AGAA4

Most religions have a supreme being or "God" so there is nothing wrong in
"God save the King."

But is it secular?

I assure you, zakouma, that those lawyers who don’t take on this type of case or advise clients to get baptised to avoid being sent home don’t wish to be lumped in with those who do such things.

So much spite.
Attacks on British cultural traditions.
The pupils who attend this school attend through choice, and if they do not like the ethos of the school they have the choice to leave and join a school that suits them better, not attempt to change the existing ethos to suit their preferences.

Rosie51

^She also known as someone who uses an incredibly limited curriculum to obtain the results she does and is criticised for not preparing children in any way to deal with the problems they will meet in the world outside school^ and yet her school is oversubscribed I believe, and the mother of this girl wants to enrol her other daughter too. Are you questioning this mother's and all the other parents' intelligence and judgement?

Personally I wouldn't have sent any of my children there because I'm not convinced the level of discipline enforced is totally necessary. I do admire the ethos of the mealtimes and encouraging children of all religions and none to mix, not hive off into separate groups.

I think many people think that an education that gives good exam results is a good education.
The number of pupils is extremely small and the staff student ratio is 12/1. Many schools could give such good results with such small numbers. Unfortunately they don't have the money to do so.

AGAA4

Good result. It seems this girl will stay at the school and a sibling may join after causing major difficulties for the head and teachers. It feels arrogant to me. If she and her mother feel so disappointed in the decision she should leave and attend a Muslim school.

I hear what you are saying, but I think it is good that the child is staying on at the school. Every Head and every teacher should want the best for their pupils, and this child, though disappointed, obviously feels comfortable to stay at the school without rancour and bitterness. This shows that fairness and tolerance all round counts. The school will handle it professionally and just fine, but sadly these things do take up a disproportionate amount of everyone's time.

Actually the girl's statement sounds very articulate and measured to me. I have no doubt the legal team worded it well, but it is the mother (and probably other backers), who are continuing to make a meal out of it.

So you are questioning their intelligence and judgement.

My last post was in reply to Glorianny

The number of pupils is extremely small and the staff student ratio is 12/1.
Should that say 1:12 Glorianny?

At least those lawyers do rather more than selling houses!

To GSM

I didn’t sell houses Lizzie - see above - but at least those who do are paid by their clients, not the taxpayer.