Birbalsingh tells Braverman to 'go away' for using her school as a 'political football'

Suella Braverman said Katherine Birbalsingh School 'wouldn't exist without Conservatives'; Free School Policy" Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Catherine Birbalsingh criticized former Home Secretary Suella Braverman and accused her of using her school as a “political football.”

The headteacher of Michaela Community School in Brent, north west London, which has been described as the strictest in Britain, criticized Ms Braverman after a row over a ban on prayer at her school.

She won a legal challenge brought by a pupil — a Muslim woman who demanded prayer. the school's restrictions were discriminatory.

Ms Birbalsingh called the result a «win for all schools» after a judge rejected the student's claim that the policy infringed on her religious freedom rights.

< p> Together with Ms. Braverman, she founded a non-religious public high school.

“Everyone seems to have their own agenda.”

Ms Braverman praised Ms Birbalsingh on Thursday and said Michaela, which she described as «one of the best schools in the country», «would not exist without the Conservatives' free schools policy». .

But in X, earlier on Twitter, Ms Birbalsingh said: “I am really unhappy with Suella Braverman using our school as a political football to further her political career.”

p>“This is as unacceptable as the BBC's attempts to smear us.

“Everyone seems to have their own agenda.

“Both Braverman and the BBC could go camping.”

Ms Birbalsingh has been named the toughest headteacher in Britain. Photo: GEOFF PUGH

Ms Birbalsingh moved to ban prayer rituals in the building in March last year after about 30 students began praying in the school yard. , using blazers to kneel.

The government's former social mobility czar said her decision was based on creating an environment «in which children of all races and religions can thrive.»

The school is rated as outstanding by regulator Ofsted and has a number of strict rules for pupils, including a ban on talking in corridors and no groups of more than four people anywhere on the site.

The school is attended by around 700 pupils and half of them are Muslim.

The Telegraph has approached Ms Braverman's representative for comment.

The BBC and Ms Braverman did not wish to respond.