A high-achieving north London school, previously dubbed Britain’s strictest, is facing a High Court challenge from a Muslim pupil over a decision to impose a “prayer ban”.
The student, who cannot be named, alleges that the policy introduced by the Michaela Community School in Brent is discriminatory and has “fundamentally changed” how she feels “about being a Muslim in this country”, a judge heard.
The pupil described the ban as “like somebody saying they don’t feel like I properly belong here”, a hearing in London on Tuesday was told.
In the legal action against the Michaela Community Schools Trust, the free school’s governing body, the student claims that the decision “banning prayer rituals” also breaches her right to freedom of religion.
The hearing was told
