'Strictest headteacher' school wins its court fight over prayer ban

A NORTH London school led by "Britain's strictest headteacher" today won a High Court battle with a student over its controversial prayer ban.

- Tristan Kirk and Anna Davis

Michaela Community School faced a legal challenge from a Muslim pupil over claims she had been discriminated against on the basis of her religion.

The Wembley school, led by Katharine Birbalsingh, imposed the crackdown in March last year, insisting its approach promoted "inclusion and social cohesion between pupils".

Delivering his ruling today, Mr Justice Linden said the school had been entitled to impose the ban and the student chose the school knowing about its strict rules.

He said that while the ban would be detrimental to Muslim students, it was "a proportionate means of achieving the legitimate aims" of the school.

The judge also found that the headteacher had been justified in suspending the student, based on the account of a teacher that she had been "extremely rude and defiant", as the prayer row continued to grow. He said a second suspension had not been justified as the student was not given the chance to give her own account.