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

Personally, I wouldn't have wanted either of my children to go there, but I doubt if the school would have wanted me as a parent either!
That's humorous growstuff!
(There were a few parents I didnt really want, but I had to think of the £ signs!)

Joseann

Rosie51

If this was an LEA school she would have to take any child excluded from another school until she reached capacity. Of course she doesn't have to.

Would that be true even if that year group was already full?
I imagine any pupil excluded from a less strict school than Michaela, which is every other school in the borough, wouldn't last five minutes with their rules and regulations.

I wondered that. How is the school exempt?

It isn't exempt, but it is already over-capacity, so can't be forced to take on extra pupils. Secondary heads play a game and resit having their PAN (Published Admission Number) increased because they know that if they can't fill to capacity, they get excluded pupils sent to them from other schools.

Glorianny

Callistemon21

Glorianny

OK I apologise it is state school.
But it is not funded in the same way as other schools in Brent.
And it certainly selects children. Basically KB looks for children who are underachieving and whose family will be supportive.

Have you checked out the other school in Brent?
It was the next borough to us when we lived in that area.

It was unbelievable just how competitive parents were, even when my DC were Y6, about which were the 'right' state-funded schools to apply to for a place for their children.

Not having experienced that previously, it was quite an eye-opener.

The statement is from the Brent policy on SEN education.
With 10%+ SEN children in the borough other schools must be taking Michaela's share.

I wonder where Brent gets the 10% figure from.

According to the government's schools dashboard, Michaela and most of other schools in Brent aren't far from average for the country.

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/schools-by-type?step=default&table=schools®ion=304&geographic=la&for=secondary#SearchSchools

Interestingly, Brent as a whole has slightly better than average attainment.

Having said that, I suspect there's a sort of backdoor selection process going on. If I had a child who tended to be a bit cheeky and chatty, I most certainly wouldn't send her/him to Michaela.

I have no doubt that most of the parents insist their children do homework and are supportive of the school, if their child misbehaves (which is not always true). Undoubtedly, that's one of the main reasons for the school's success.

Additionally, the school has a very restricted curriculum. For example, it doesn't offer triple science, it only teaches one foreign language, pupils have to choose between geography and history, practical subjects aren't offered, there's no GCSE music. Pupils spend longer than average on 8 GCSEs, which is the number which counts in league tables.

Personally, I wouldn't have wanted either of my children to go there, but I doubt if the school would have wanted me as a parent either!

I sort of see what you mean, Glorianny, that the school might have SEN strugglers, but because of the small classes those children are not labelled as such and don't have a statement? But they are still SEND pupils. As said before, very bright children fit into the category of SEN at the other end of the scale.

Rosie51

^If this was an LEA school she would have to take any child excluded from another school until she reached capacity. Of course she doesn't have to.^

Would that be true even if that year group was already full?
I imagine any pupil excluded from a less strict school than Michaela, which is every other school in the borough, wouldn't last five minutes with their rules and regulations.

I wondered that. How is the school exempt?

Glorianny

Joseann

Also Glorianny if you look on Michaela's website you will find the SEND policy. I include the opening paragraph .....

We are a non-selective, co-educational school in the London borough of Brent. We
believe that all children, regardless of need, can be successful academically if they
are provided with adequate support. We cater for pupils with a range of SEN
including (but not limited to) those identified as having:
• MLD (Moderate Learning Difficulties)
• SpLCD (Speech, Language and Communication Difficulties)
• BESD (Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties)
• ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorders)
• Dyslexia

The school has SEN children.

The school has to have an SEN policy. It doesn't mean it has any such children.
Even then I suppose she could only accept those children the school would suit. KB thinks it is the right place for autistic children because it is quiet. Lots of stuff from her about it on Twitter at one time. So you are right there may be some but only those who could cope with the restrictions and there won't be many of those.
Interesting to look at the last Ofsted. The numbers are worse than it seemed.
There are now 90 children in the 6th form, and 698 in the main section. Which means they are still not up to full capacity, although they now have children from 11-19.
If this was an LEA school she would have to take any child excluded from another school until she reached capacity. Of course she doesn't have to.

Actually Glorianny, the school is over-capacity. Its PAN is 120 a year, so that would be 600 in the main school. The consequence is that the school doesn't have to take children on managed transfers.

If this was an LEA school she would have to take any child excluded from another school until she reached capacity. Of course she doesn't have to.

Would that be true even if that year group was already full?
I imagine any pupil excluded from a less strict school than Michaela, which is every other school in the borough, wouldn't last five minutes with their rules and regulations.

Joseann

Also Glorianny if you look on Michaela's website you will find the SEND policy. I include the opening paragraph .....

We are a non-selective, co-educational school in the London borough of Brent. We
believe that all children, regardless of need, can be successful academically if they
are provided with adequate support. We cater for pupils with a range of SEN
including (but not limited to) those identified as having:
• MLD (Moderate Learning Difficulties)
• SpLCD (Speech, Language and Communication Difficulties)
• BESD (Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties)
• ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorders)
• Dyslexia

The school has SEN children.

The school has to have an SEN policy. It doesn't mean it has any such children.
Even then I suppose she could only accept those children the school would suit. KB thinks it is the right place for autistic children because it is quiet. Lots of stuff from her about it on Twitter at one time. So you are right there may be some but only those who could cope with the restrictions and there won't be many of those.
Interesting to look at the last Ofsted. The numbers are worse than it seemed.
There are now 90 children in the 6th form, and 698 in the main section. Which means they are still not up to full capacity, although they now have children from 11-19.
If this was an LEA school she would have to take any child excluded from another school until she reached capacity. Of course she doesn't have to.

Iam64

*Glorianny, I’m not being picky here but you seem to need correcting on every point *

Apologies for my immediate response which was to add Oppositional Defiant Disorder to the range of SEN disorders on the list

Iam64 what a pity you need to make personal remarks in any discussion.
Possibly I have a disorder. Possibly I am different.
Making jokes about special needs is a bit out of date.

Glorianny, I’m not being picky here but you seem to need correcting on every point

Apologies for my immediate response which was to add Oppositional Defiant Disorder to the range of SEN disorders on the list

Also Glorianny if you look on Michaela's website you will find the SEND policy. I include the opening paragraph .....

We are a non-selective, co-educational school in the London borough of Brent. We
believe that all children, regardless of need, can be successful academically if they
are provided with adequate support. We cater for pupils with a range of SEN
including (but not limited to) those identified as having:
• MLD (Moderate Learning Difficulties)
• SpLCD (Speech, Language and Communication Difficulties)
• BESD (Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties)
• ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorders)
• Dyslexia

The school has SEN children.

I don't think it is openly selective. I think it screens children who apply. I think it would be hard to prove. But the school has no SEN children. Now some parents might not approve and want their child there, but the smaller sized classes would surely attract some SEN children.
Glorianny, I'm not being picky here, but you seem to need correcting on every point.
Have you read the OFSTED report? The school does have SEN children. Staff have high expectations of all pupils. Leaders have put robust systems in place to
identify pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They provide
additional support if necessary. Teachers are adept at ensuring that all pupils achieve
highly. Pupils read widely, with allocated time for reading each day and lessons in the
school library. Sixth-form students help younger pupils with their reading. Weaker readers have suitable support in place to enable them to catch up quickly^.

Sounds like a pretty good state school to me!

Glorianny

Callistemon21

Glorianny

OK I apologise it is state school.
But it is not funded in the same way as other schools in Brent.
And it certainly selects children. Basically KB looks for children who are underachieving and whose family will be supportive.

Have you checked out the other school in Brent?
It was the next borough to us when we lived in that area.

It was unbelievable just how competitive parents were, even when my DC were Y6, about which were the 'right' state-funded schools to apply to for a place for their children.

Not having experienced that previously, it was quite an eye-opener.

The statement is from the Brent policy on SEN education.
With 10%+ SEN children in the borough other schools must be taking Michaela's share.

I don't know but if so, then it has always happened.

It was the main topic of conversation for Y6 parents all those years ago; I'd never experienced such fierce competitiveness, not even when there was the 11+.

Callistemon21

Glorianny

OK I apologise it is state school.
But it is not funded in the same way as other schools in Brent.
And it certainly selects children. Basically KB looks for children who are underachieving and whose family will be supportive.

Have you checked out the other school in Brent?
It was the next borough to us when we lived in that area.

It was unbelievable just how competitive parents were, even when my DC were Y6, about which were the 'right' state-funded schools to apply to for a place for their children.

Not having experienced that previously, it was quite an eye-opener.

The statement is from the Brent policy on SEN education.
With 10%+ SEN children in the borough other schools must be taking Michaela's share.

the other school in Brent?
Sorry, schools plural.

Glorianny

OK I apologise it is state school.
But it is not funded in the same way as other schools in Brent.
And it certainly selects children. Basically KB looks for children who are underachieving and whose family will be supportive.

Have you checked out the other school in Brent?
It was the next borough to us when we lived in that area.

It was unbelievable just how competitive parents were, even when my DC were Y6, about which were the 'right' state-funded schools to apply to for a place for their children.

Not having experienced that previously, it was quite an eye-opener.

Joseann

Glorianny

OK I apologise it is state school.
But it is not funded in the same way as other schools in Brent.
And it certainly selects children. Basically KB looks for children who are underachieving and whose family will be supportive.

Are you sure Glorianny? The GOV UK schools information page certainly has Michaela down as being non-selective.
As a free school, the school is required, by its funding agreement, to comply with the legal School Admissions Code.

I don't think it is openly selective. I think it screens children who apply. I think it would be hard to prove. But the school has no SEN children. Now some parents might not approve and want their child there, but the smaller sized classes would surely attract some SEN children.
The figures are here
www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/140862#school-dashboard
This is the situation in Brent
^There is a lower rate of Brent pupils needing
special educational need (SEN) support (10.7%,
compared to the national average of 12.2%).
The most common category of need identified
in the School Census 2021 at SEN support was
(2) Department for Education SEN2 return 2021
9 for speech, language and communication with
29% of pupils identified with this need in Brent
compared to 22% nationally. A key strategic
priority is to ensure special educational needs
can be met earlier, through the graduated
approach with a clear whole borough strategy
for identifying and addressing communication
and interaction needs earlier^
With 709 pupils there should be some SEN.

Glorianny

OK I apologise it is state school.
But it is not funded in the same way as other schools in Brent.
And it certainly selects children. Basically KB looks for children who are underachieving and whose family will be supportive.

Are you sure Glorianny? The GOV UK schools information page certainly has Michaela down as being non-selective.
As a free school, the school is required, by its funding agreement, to comply with the legal School Admissions Code.

OK I apologise it is state school.
But it is not funded in the same way as other schools in Brent.
And it certainly selects children. Basically KB looks for children who are underachieving and whose family will be supportive.

Callistemon21

maddyone

Glorrianny
The school is a state school!

Yes, it is a state school and it is funded in much the same way as most of the other schools in Brent.

There is an Islamic School for Girls but it has been rated as inadequate by Ofsted which might put some parents off applying.

The Muslim parents I have known over the years, particularly those whose children were at school with mine, all have very high standards of behaviour for their children, so perhaps that is why so many Muslim parents have chosen the Michaela School for their daughters.

This is true Muslim girls have very high standards of behavior expected. It’s a shame the boys are very different because the Muslim girls are unavailable to them the prey on white girls.

Free schools are state schools.
Academies are state schools.

Glorianny

maddyone

Glorrianny
The school is a state school!

The school is not a state school. It is free school, run by the Michaela Trust an independent not for profit organisation which is funded directly by the government.
It selects its pupils carefully, vets them thoroughly and rejects many

It is a state school in the sense that it is state-funded. It is a non fee paying school.
To be an independent school, fees are charged to attend, and these schools are not funded by the government, so they are not state schools.

Like so many schools in England.

State-funded.