A London High Court has ruled against a Muslim student who challenged her school’s ban on prayer rituals, the BBC reports.
In an 83-page written judgment dismissing the student’s case, Mr Justice Linden said: ‘The claimant at the very least impliedly accepted, when she enrolled at the school, that she would be subject to restrictions on her ability to manifest her religion.’
The free school’s founder and head teacher Katharine Birbalsingh said the ruling was a ‘victory for all schools’.
Michaela School in Wembley was taken to court by the girl over the policy, which she argued was discriminatory.
The non-faith state secondary school previously told the High Court that allowing prayer rituals risked ‘undermining inclusion’ among pupils.
The BBC reports that, according to evidence, about half the school’s roughly 700 pupils are Muslim. Students are expected to adhere to strict rules, including focusing on teachers extensively during lessons and remaining silent in corridors, as well as observing restrictions on uniforms.
The court heard, however, that in March 2023, up to 30 students began praying in the school’s yard, using blazers to kneel on.
The court was told that the school introduced the ban in the same month, due to concerns about a ‘culture shift’ towards ‘segregation between religious groups and intimidation within the group of Muslim pupils’.
Michaela is a free school, and is therefore independent of the local authority, Brent Council, and exempt from teaching the national curriculum.
[Image: Katharine Birbalsingh, centre, in white cardigan. https://www.flickr.com/photos/markdodds/5674664339]