London headteacher defends school prayer ban in high court

Katharine Birbalsingh says Michaela school policy is vital to ensure ‘children of all races and religion can thrive’

The headteacher of a school that is facing legal action over a ban on prayer rituals has defended the policy, arguing it was vital in order to “maintain a successful learning environment where children of all races and religion can thrive”.

The case against Michaela community school in Brent, north-west London, which has been the subject of a two-day hearing at the high court in London this week, has been brought by one of its Muslim pupils, who claims the ban is discriminatory and is seeking to have it overturned.