Who is ‘Britain’s strictest headteacher’ Katharine Birbalsingh? Meet the woman at the centre of a legal challenge after she decided to ban prayer rituals at secondary school [Video]

11:51 EDT 16 Apr 2024 , updated 12:00 EDT 16 Apr 2024

Katharine Birbalsingh – headteacher of ‘Britain’s strictest school’ – emerged victorious today after winning a High Court case launched by a pupil over a prayer ban.

The student, who is Muslim and cannot be named, today lost a High Court challenge against a ban on prayer rituals at Michaela Community School in Brent, London.

The pupil took legal action against the high-achieving secondary school – founded and led by 51-year-old Ms Birbalsingh – claiming the policy was discriminatory and ‘uniquely’ affected her faith due to its ritualised nature.

However, Ms Birbalsingh, a former government social mobility tsar, argued its prayer policy was justified after it faced death and bomb threats linked to religious observance on site. 

The headteacher has made headlines for her controversial views on ‘woke culture’ in schools – such as suggesting that some people from the poorest families should set their sights lower.

So, who is Katharine …