Katherine Birbalsingh slams the Home Secretary for using her school’s legal case to further her career ambitions.
Katherine Birbalsingh, the headteacher of Michaela Community School in Brent, has criticised Suella Braverman for turning the school into a “political football” after the former Home Secretary’s public support for the institution. The criticism follows a recent High Court case in which Michaela School successfully defended its policy that bans prayer rituals on the premises, a stance that had been challenged by a student claiming it violated her right to religious freedom.
Braverman, a Conservative MP, was one of the co-founders of Michaela alongside Birbalsingh. She had also chaired the school’s board of governors until 2018. In a recent statement, Braverman praised Michaela, calling it “one of the best schools in the country” and attributed its existence to the Conservative government’s Free School policy.
However, Birbalsingh has now accused Braverman of exploiting the school’s legal victory to boost her own political career. On social media platform X, Birbalsingh wrote: “I really am not happy with Suella Braverman using our school as a political football to enhance her political career. It is as unacceptable as the BBC doing their best to smear us.” She also criticised the BBC’s coverage of the case, adding, “Everyone seems to have an agenda. Both Braverman and the BBC can take a hike.”
The dispute arose after a student challenged the school’s policy that bans prayer rituals, including during lunch breaks, on the grounds of discrimination against her Islamic faith. Her legal team argued that allowing a brief prayer session at lunchtime would not disrupt lessons and would respect her religious obligations. The school, however, justified the ban by saying that it sought to maintain social cohesion and avoid logistical complications.
In a judgment handed down earlier this week, the High Court ruled that the ban did not infringe on the student’s rights and deemed it “proportionate” in light of the school’s aim to foster an inclusive environment.
Braverman has yet to respond to Birbalsingh’s remarks.
