Katharine Birbalsingh, headteacher of Michaela Community School, publicly criticizes Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson for her alleged opposition to academies and accuses her of lacking knowledge about her own School Bill.
Katharine Birbalsingh, the headteacher known as Britain's strictest, has publicly accused Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson of harboring 'Marxist' leanings and a disdain for academies. Birbalsingh penned a scathing open letter to Phillipson following a meeting aimed at discussing school improvement.
The letter, published in The Spectator, criticizes Phillipson for her purported lack of understanding regarding her own School Bill and her attempts to transform all academies into institutions resembling local authority schools. Birbalsingh leads Michaela Community School in North-West London, an academy renowned for its rigorous academic standards despite its predominantly disadvantaged student body. The school's success, she attributes to her strict disciplinary approach, stringent uniform and behavior policies, and the pioneering 'boot camps' implemented for incoming Year 7 students. However, following the meeting with Phillipson, Birbalsingh expressed her conviction that the Education Secretary seeks to undermine schools like hers, which operate as both academies and free schools. Birbalsingh's letter directly accuses Phillipson of being unable to answer questions regarding the specifics of Labour's School Bill, particularly concerning admissions and teacher recruitment. She writes, 'It became apparent to me when we met that you do not appear to know your own Bill... You were the Shadow Education Secretary for three years. It should not be left to school leaders to point out the holes.' Birbalsingh further accuses Phillipson of lacking transparency regarding her true intentions, stating, 'The reality is that your record in Parliament reveals what you really think of academies, which is that you hate them.' She asserts that Phillipson's current pro-academy stance is merely a political maneuver, driven by the need to avoid openly opposing academies in light of their demonstrable success. Birbalsingh contends that Phillipson's ultimate goal is to centralize control over education, hindering school leaders' ability to innovate and cater to the specific needs of their students.This clash of ideologies comes as MPs scrutinize the School Bill, which proposes to curtail academies' autonomy over curriculum, teacher recruitment, and pay and working conditions. While Labour maintains that the amendments ensure that academies can continue to attract and retain top talent by offering competitive salaries, Birbalsingh's criticisms highlight the ongoing tension between those who advocate for centralized control over education and those who champion the freedom and flexibility of academies. Last month, Birbalsingh previously criticized Phillipson in a written communication regarding the Bill, labeling her as 'blinded by Marxist ideology.' Birbalsingh, a prominent figure during the last Conservative government, was vocal about the failings within state schools and served as a champion of the academies program and chairman of the Social Mobility Commission. A government spokesperson responded, stating that Phillipson, having personally experienced the value of a quality education for disadvantaged children, does not require lectures on the subject. They dismissed Birbalsingh's claims as 'a total work of fiction' and asserted that Phillipson was consistently interrupted during the meeting.
BRITAIN EDUCATION HEADTEACHER ACADEMIES MARXISM SCHOOL BILL BRIDGET PHILLIPSON KATHARINE BIRBALSINGH
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Britain's Strictest Headteacher Slams Labour's School Reforms, Accuses Education Secretary of Marxist BiasKatharine Birbalsingh, headteacher of Michaela Community School, criticizes Labour's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, arguing that the proposed restrictions on academy freedoms will harm disadvantaged children and stifle innovation.
Read more »
Scotland's Education Secretary Investigates Pornography Access on School iPadsFollowing reports that primary school pupils in Scotland were able to access pornography on iPads provided by their schools, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth has intervened. She has contacted local council leaders, urging them to ensure robust controls are in place on all devices issued to children to block adult content. This comes after Edinburgh City Council took action to restrict access to certain search engines after it was discovered that pupils could easily disable Safe Search features.
Read more »
Parents Letting Children Skip Fridays Off School, Education Secretary SaysEducation Secretary Bridget Phillipson has criticized parents for allowing their children to miss Fridays of school, citing a growing trend of 'casual' attitudes towards attendance. Phillipson emphasized the importance of every school day and the impact of absences on the education of all children. She also defended her Ofsted reforms, stating they are 'more rigorous' and will 'raise standards'.
Read more »
Education Secretary Warns Parents Against 'Casual Attitude' to School AttendanceThe Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has issued a stark warning to parents about the importance of school attendance, particularly on Fridays, amidst concern over a growing trend of 'unorthodox schooling'. Phillipson's comments follow reports of persistently low attendance rates since the pandemic and a record number of children being taken out of school for term-time holidays.
Read more »
Education Secretary Slams Tories Over Grooming Gangs Inquiry PushEducation Secretary Bridget Phillipson accuses the Conservative Party of being 'bandwagon jumpers' who don't care about children's safety as they attempt to force a national grooming gangs inquiry.
Read more »
John Swinney says time as Education Secretary changed his politics foreverEXCLUSIVE: Allies say Swinney has moved left in recent years, with the First Minister saying his time in charge of schools was pivotal.
Read more »