Latest news with #KatharineBirbalsingh
Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Times
Trans children more likely to be white and privileged, says head
Transgender children tend to be 'white and privileged', Britain's so-called strictest head teacher has claimed. Katharine Birbalsingh, head of the Michaela Community School in Wembley, northwest London, said her school was unlikely to have any trans pupils because of its mainly ethnic-minority intake. Birbalsingh, who previously worked as the government's social mobility tsar, told The London Standard: 'If one actually did a survey on this sort of thing nationally, I think you would find that white privileged kids would be more likely to be doing that. No question.' • Birbalsingh: Gentle middle-class parenting can be harmful She added: 'Our society is such that victimhood is admired. And if you feel that you're white and privileged, then you don't have much of a victimhood narrative to
Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Trans children more likely to be ‘white and privileged', says Katharine Birbalsingh
Transgender children are more likely to be 'white and privileged', Britain's so-called strictest head teacher has claimed. Katharine Birbalsingh, 52, also said that they are searching for 'victimhood narratives', which she claims are 'admired' in modern society. The former government social mobility tsar, who is head teacher at the Michaela Community School in north west London, suggested she was 'unlikely' to have any transgender pupils because of the school's heavy ethnic minority intake. 'I think if one actually did a survey on this sort of thing nationally, I think you would find that white privileged kids would be more likely to be doing that,' she told The Standard. 'No question. 'Our society is such that victimhood is admired. And if you feel that you're white and privileged, then you don't have much of a victimhood narrative to embrace. 'So then you need to find something to embrace to be respected by your peers.' Ms Birbalsingh said she did not expect to be welcoming a trans pupil soon because much of the Michaela intake is from the inner city. 'That plays a huge part,' she continued. 'I think they'd be less inclined.' She added that she would want to support any child identifying as trans at the school and 'make sure they weren't just participating in a fad'. The head teacher said her school discourages children from doing anything 'performative'. 'Of course there are obstacles – racism, transphobia, homophobia, misogyny, all that exists clearly,' she added. 'But how you react to that obstacle is up to you. We reject victimhood and embrace agency and personal responsibility.' 157 children under 10 await gender care New figures show 157 children awaiting gender care in England and Wales are aged 10 or under. The data, obtained following the Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of a woman last month, also show there were 6,225 children on the national waiting list at the end of March – up from 5,560 at the same point a year earlier. Although the court ruling does not directly affect pupils, as gender recognition certificates are only available to people aged 18 or over, experts have said it will have consequences for the school admission policies of single-sex schools. The Telegraph has previously revealed that the NHS is treating nursery school-age children who believe they are transgender after watering down its own guidance. Ms Birbalsingh, who is known for her strict, uncompromising rule, said her school's values 'encourage the kids to seek the truth'. She has already banned phones entirely at Michaela and encourages parents not to buy them for under-16s at all. In April last year, the High Court upheld her ban on Muslim prayers taking place during the learning day. A pupil claimed the policy was discriminatory and infringed her right to religious freedom. However, the court sided with Ms Birbalsingh who had argued the ban was vital to ensure 'children of all races and religions can thrive'.
Belfast Telegraph
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Protesters rally against Government's ‘insane' Schools Bill
Protesters in central London during a demonstration against the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Emily Smith/PA) Protesters gathered in central London on Sunday to demonstrate against the 'insane' Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill. Hundreds of teachers, parents and children marched from Whitehall to Parliament Square holding signs and chanting 'Two, four, six, eight, educate not legislate' and 'Hey, hey, ho, ho, this stupid Bill has got to go'. The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is currently being considered in the House of Lords, proposes measures including a limit on the number of branded uniform items and stronger restrictions on home education. Katharine Birbalsingh, headteacher at Michaela Community School and often described as Britain's 'strictest head', attended the protest holding a sign saying 'Don't break what's working'. She called the legislation 'completely insane' and warned that it threatened to 'undo' improvements made in the education system during the past 15 years. She told the PA news agency: 'We just want to show the Government that we are unhappy about the Schools Bill and that school leaders do believe that they are removing our freedoms. 'The freedoms that parents have, the freedom that school leaders have, we want to retain them. And the Government should be speaking to all of us. They're not talking to us. 'What they're going to do will not enable us to do what's best for our cohort and children. And that we know what's better for our specific children. 'I do feel that the Government is a little bit out of touch. 'It's completely insane. 'They're driving through an ideological Bill which in the end will harm children.' People staged a demonstration against the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Emily Smith/PA) On her message to to the Government, she added: 'Listen to school leaders and educators and allow us to keep the freedoms that have worked so well for children in this country.' As protesters, joined by hundreds of children, marched through central London, they held signs that read 'We say no to state-controlled childhood' and 'Social media harms kids'. Joe Butterfield, 31, a teacher in London, said he believed the Bill would be 'damaging' to the pupils he teaches. He said: 'We are here protesting against the Schools Bill by the current Government because we think it will be damaging to children's education and lead to poorer behaviour in schools.' Sarah, 48, an assistant headteacher from Essex, attended the protest holding a 'Stop the Schools Bill' sign. She said: 'The Government needs to not put the Bill through because it's going to drive down standards and stifle innovation. 'You're not going to attract the best talent. If you're just a robot in the front of the classroom delivering a national curriculum to the letter, you're not going to attract people that want to make a difference.' As the march reached Parliament Square, speeches were delivered by representatives from home education groups, religious organisations and children's charities. Opening her speech to the crowd, Ms Birbalsingh mentioned the Education Secretary and said 'we have one enemy in common, and that is Bridget Phillipson', a comment that drew loud cheers from crowds. 'Keir Starmer and Bridget Phillipson are totally out of touch with what is happening to children on the ground,' she said. 'The children matter, schools matter, parents matter, and our freedom matters.' A Labour source said: 'Nothing is going to stop this Labour government from delivering educational excellence for every child, and certainly not today's sparsely attended protest. 'Parents back the common sense measures this government is introducing, including free breakfast clubs, restricting the cost of uniform and putting a qualified teacher at the front of every classroom.'
North Wales Chronicle
18-05-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Protesters rally against Government's ‘insane' Schools Bill
Hundreds of teachers, parents and children marched from Whitehall to Parliament Square holding signs and chanting 'Two, four, six, eight, educate not legislate' and 'Hey, hey, ho, ho, this stupid Bill has got to go'. The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is currently being considered in the House of Lords, proposes measures including a limit on the number of branded uniform items and stronger restrictions on home education. Katharine Birbalsingh, headteacher at Michaela Community School and often described as Britain's 'strictest head', attended the protest holding a sign saying 'Don't break what's working'. She called the legislation 'completely insane' and warned that it threatened to 'undo' improvements made in the education system during the past 15 years. She told the PA news agency: 'We just want to show the Government that we are unhappy about the Schools Bill and that school leaders do believe that they are removing our freedoms. 'The freedoms that parents have, the freedom that school leaders have, we want to retain them. And the Government should be speaking to all of us. They're not talking to us. 'What they're going to do will not enable us to do what's best for our cohort and children. And that we know what's better for our specific children. 'I do feel that the Government is a little bit out of touch. 'It's completely insane. 'They're driving through an ideological Bill which in the end will harm children.' On her message to to the Government, she added: 'Listen to school leaders and educators and allow us to keep the freedoms that have worked so well for children in this country.' As protesters, joined by hundreds of children, marched through central London, they held signs that read 'We say no to state-controlled childhood' and 'Social media harms kids'. Joe Butterfield, 31, a teacher in London, said he believed the Bill would be 'damaging' to the pupils he teaches. He said: 'We are here protesting against the Schools Bill by the current Government because we think it will be damaging to children's education and lead to poorer behaviour in schools.' Sarah, 48, an assistant headteacher from Essex, attended the protest holding a 'Stop the Schools Bill' sign. She said: 'The Government needs to not put the Bill through because it's going to drive down standards and stifle innovation. 'You're not going to attract the best talent. If you're just a robot in the front of the classroom delivering a national curriculum to the letter, you're not going to attract people that want to make a difference.' As the march reached Parliament Square, speeches were delivered by representatives from home education groups, religious organisations and children's charities. Opening her speech to the crowd, Ms Birbalsingh mentioned the Education Secretary and said 'we have one enemy in common, and that is Bridget Phillipson', a comment that drew loud cheers from crowds. 'Keir Starmer and Bridget Phillipson are totally out of touch with what is happening to children on the ground,' she said. 'The children matter, schools matter, parents matter, and our freedom matters.' A Labour source said: 'Nothing is going to stop this Labour government from delivering educational excellence for every child, and certainly not today's sparsely attended protest. 'Parents back the common sense measures this government is introducing, including free breakfast clubs, restricting the cost of uniform and putting a qualified teacher at the front of every classroom.'
Western Telegraph
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Protesters rally against Government's ‘insane' Schools Bill
Hundreds of teachers, parents and children marched from Whitehall to Parliament Square holding signs and chanting 'Two, four, six, eight, educate not legislate' and 'Hey, hey, ho, ho, this stupid Bill has got to go'. The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is currently being considered in the House of Lords, proposes measures including a limit on the number of branded uniform items and stronger restrictions on home education. Katharine Birbalsingh, headteacher at Michaela Community School and often described as Britain's 'strictest head', attended the protest holding a sign saying 'Don't break what's working'. She called the legislation 'completely insane' and warned that it threatened to 'undo' improvements made in the education system during the past 15 years. She told the PA news agency: 'We just want to show the Government that we are unhappy about the Schools Bill and that school leaders do believe that they are removing our freedoms. 'The freedoms that parents have, the freedom that school leaders have, we want to retain them. And the Government should be speaking to all of us. They're not talking to us. 'What they're going to do will not enable us to do what's best for our cohort and children. And that we know what's better for our specific children. 'I do feel that the Government is a little bit out of touch. 'It's completely insane. 'They're driving through an ideological Bill which in the end will harm children.' People staged a demonstration against the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Emily Smith/PA) On her message to to the Government, she added: 'Listen to school leaders and educators and allow us to keep the freedoms that have worked so well for children in this country.' As protesters, joined by hundreds of children, marched through central London, they held signs that read 'We say no to state-controlled childhood' and 'Social media harms kids'. Joe Butterfield, 31, a teacher in London, said he believed the Bill would be 'damaging' to the pupils he teaches. He said: 'We are here protesting against the Schools Bill by the current Government because we think it will be damaging to children's education and lead to poorer behaviour in schools.' Sarah, 48, an assistant headteacher from Essex, attended the protest holding a 'Stop the Schools Bill' sign. She said: 'The Government needs to not put the Bill through because it's going to drive down standards and stifle innovation. 'You're not going to attract the best talent. If you're just a robot in the front of the classroom delivering a national curriculum to the letter, you're not going to attract people that want to make a difference.' As the march reached Parliament Square, speeches were delivered by representatives from home education groups, religious organisations and children's charities. Opening her speech to the crowd, Ms Birbalsingh mentioned the Education Secretary and said 'we have one enemy in common, and that is Bridget Phillipson', a comment that drew loud cheers from crowds. 'Keir Starmer and Bridget Phillipson are totally out of touch with what is happening to children on the ground,' she said. 'The children matter, schools matter, parents matter, and our freedom matters.' A Labour source said: 'Nothing is going to stop this Labour government from delivering educational excellence for every child, and certainly not today's sparsely attended protest. 'Parents back the common sense measures this government is introducing, including free breakfast clubs, restricting the cost of uniform and putting a qualified teacher at the front of every classroom.'
