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

Joseann

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

No wonder standards were able to be so high Joseann!

Any idea how this is afforded Joseann?

Germanshepherdsmum

Any idea how this is afforded Joseann?

Ha ha! KPI is all important! Staff costs in an average independent school amount to about 70% of the income received. I know this isn't a fee paying school, but there you go! KB must have an extra pot of money somewhere for that 12:1 ratio.
Teacher:pupil ratio is a tricky one in the primary sector where we usually have more staff for obvious reasons.

Thanks. I didn’t understand how the staff costs could be afforded in a non-fee paying school. I don’t know what school meals cost nowadays but I read that at this school a two course (pescatarian) lunch and snacks costs £2.50 a day - pupils are not allowed to bring any food into school (so no snacks or packed lunches), but if a child is entitled to free school meals the money is refunded to the parents.

Another vote for the outcome here.

I don’t know what school meals cost nowadays but I read that at this school a two course (pescatarian) lunch and snacks costs £2.50 a day.
Sounds like a bargain to me, taking into account energy and catering staff costs!

I’m utterly amazed that they can afford this without additional funding outside of that which they’d get from Dept of Ed via their Academy, (if they are an academy school)

Gloryannie
not preparing her pupils etc

Watch this if can bring yourself too.

www.google.com/search?q=Kathryn+Babsingh+%2B+prepares+children+for+life&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:1083fdea,vid:cHldG8Aomyc,st:0

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Non faith schools should be like France. Totally non secular. 🤷‍♀️

Other than that, go to a faith based school.

And, of course, I meant secular. Predictive text…..aargh! 🙄

I agreed with biglouis’s post but obviously someone else reported it. When in Rome ..

I just caught the end of a report on this case on Sky News. A Muslim man was talking about his ‘right to pray’. This is, I think, just the beginning despite the girl having said she could say extra prayers after school (and, I expect, before).

I didn’t see the deleted post but I really wish people would stop all this reporting nonsense. Fgs let others have their say!

I couldn’t agree more.

Mollygo

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.
👏👏👏

Exactly
👍

Urmstongran

Sigh.

The Twitter post from Birbalsingh is worth reading. Apparently the mother of the vexatious child is planning another legal challenge against the school on a different matter.

This one cost the tax payer £150k in legal aid, and she is also planning on sending her other daughter there, so clearly doesn’t hate the school that much.
Honestly, words fail me that we allow this to happen.

and she is also planning on sending her other daughter there, so clearly doesn’t hate the school that much.

The school could refuse her a place.

Troublemakers can be expelled.

pascal30

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

God comes in many guises.
God Save the King is an anthem, not a hymn.

Why would a secular school sing hymns? Hold Christmas carol concerts? 🤔

I think the moderators on GN have a pretty light touch actually.

I missed the deleted post, pity.

It must have been quite something looking at some of the other, rather spiteful posts on this thread that still remain!

petra

Gloryannie
not preparing her pupils etc

Watch this if can bring yourself too.

www.google.com/search?q=Kathryn+Babsingh+%2B+prepares+children+for+life&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:1083fdea,vid:cHldG8Aomyc,st:0

I started but I have heard her before. If most inner city schools could be as small as the school she runs, if they could have the large numbers of staff they could do exactly what she has done but better. They could have a wide curriculum which caters for students who have abilities in the arts and improve all children's chances. As it is they are struggling in huge schools where disadvantaged children are lost and not surprisingly misbehave or drop out.
She hasn't worked some miracle, She has chosen her children carefully, restricted the curriculum, appointed lots of staff and not surprisingly those children have passed the exams. If they are equipped to deal with the real world where everything will not be regulated and regimented. If they have been taught to think and problem solve is another question.

I hope that controversy on this particular school doesn't stop what I know happens in my grandchildren's primary school - all the major faith days are marked in a pleasant way with a light touch that is inclusive multi-culturally.

What I think might be at risk is the good teaching that replaced "RE" - ie learning a bit about other cultures and faiths.

I wish I could agree. It depends on who has reported, in my experience. Some reporters seem to have more clout than others.

If they are equipped to deal with the real world

It always puzzles me exactly what some people's definition of 'the real world' is.
For some it is a life in academia
For others joining HM Forces
A life working in medicine
Others might become recycling operatives.
Others aid workers

So many different real worlds for different people

Please could you define 'real world'?

That post was a question for Glorianny

I did catch the deleted post, but I was concentrating specifically on the school aspect at the time, and I don’t think it was about that, so it didn't register with me. It went in a flash.