London Schools Face Legal Challenges and Threats Over Prayer Ban and Political Activism

Headteachers defend policies as necessary for maintaining integration and preventing division within multicultural student bodies.

Michaela Community School in Wembley, London, known for its strict disciplinary policy, is facing a legal challenge over its ban on ritual prayer.
The ban was introduced after incidents of intimidation and threats of violence, including a bomb scare, following the start of public prayer rituals by around 30 students in the school yard.
Headmistress Katharine Birbalsingh has defended the ban, stating that it is necessary to maintain the school's ethos of integration and prevent division along racial and religious lines.
Barclay Primary School in Leyton, London, has also been targeted with threats, including a credible bomb threat, following a dispute over a pro-Palestine badge worn by a student.
Both cases highlight the increasing tension and activism in schools, with concerns raised about the impact on student safety and the potential for division within multicultural communities.