No Excuses’: Inside Britain’s Strictest School

The Michaela community school in Brent, north London has been touted as the strictest school in Britain, with its focus on discipline setting it apart from other institutions. However, the school’s headteacher, Katharine Birbalsingh, who has been dubbed "Britain’s strictest teacher” by the Sunday Times, suggests that the biggest challenge comes from critics from outside rather than keeping pupils in line. Despite the formidable reputation, not all educationalists are enthralled with the school, and skirmishes between pro and anti-Michaela factions on social media are a regular occurrence.

Birbalsingh, who is one of the few black or ethnic minority women heading a secondary school in England, admits that sometimes the debate turns nasty, with hateful emails wishing cancer and other things on them. These detractors on the outside are extremely time-consuming, emotionally draining and obsessive. Nevertheless, Birbalsingh feels that the detractors will not prevent the school from continuing its work.

One of the principles that is unique to Michaela is its unwillingness to overlook even the smallest misbehaviour. Students are disciplined for various things including arriving one minute late to school, for not completing homework, for scruffy work, for not having a pen or ruler, and even for “persistently turning round in class” after being told not to. And while Michaela has gained a notorious reputation for its disciplinary approaches, Birbalsingh stresses that it also teaches critical thinking and character formation.

The school’s determination to foster good habits is clearly illustrated in class and beyond. For instance, in the hallway, students walk in silence in single file with any deviation in line or sound resulting in a demerit and detention. These silent corridors work to ensure children stay calm and focused on their next lesson and avoid the usual milling around that occurs in many schools.

In 2016, Michaela made headlines when it emerged children whose parents had not paid for school lunches were made to eat in a separate room. Despite the negative press, Birbalsingh dismissed the criticism: “At other schools if their parents didn’t pay they wouldn’t get any lunch at all. Here they still get lunch, a good lunch.”

Michaela’s staff, with mostly young educators, are active on Twitter and the education blogosphere. Birbalsingh and the school have recently published Battle Hymn of the Tiger Teachers, a book that details the school’s approach to discipline, which has been endorsed by philosopher Roger Scruton. The policies may be harsh, but the school stresses the importance of respectful behaviour habits, which it hopes will last well into their students’ future.

At Michaela Community School, students have a safe and welcoming environment, where bullies have no place. Unlike other schools where youngsters are often scared of being picked on, Michaela provides a sanctuary where children are free to use the toilets without fear. According to the school’s founder, Katharine Birbalsingh, a stricter, more traditional approach to teaching is another significant difference between Michaela and other schools. At Michaela, teachers stand at the front of the classroom and impart knowledge, believing that educators know much more than children. This belief contrasts starkly with that held by many teachers in the UK, Birbalsingh opines, who feel that students and teachers have almost equal knowledge, and that their role is to guide students rather than teach them. The third significant difference at Michaela Community School is the teaching of values such as kindness and gratitude. The school feels that youngsters should not only treat each other and their teachers in a respectful manner but also express gratitude for the support they receive. As a teacher and a parent, Birbalsingh believes that teaching is one of the country’s most essential jobs but regrets that teachers in Britain have to face more vilification than praise. She explains that stress and pressure drive teachers down, leading to attacks and physical assaults. However, at Michaela Community School, children would be different, growing up as kind-hearted and grateful individuals who could be trusted not to hurt others. Birbalsingh feels that many children in other schools lack kindness and are often horrible because nobody has taught them the value of being kind. Michaela Community School’s attention to detail is not limited to its teaching approach as even small details such as hooks in class, a black line woven into the carpet, and clear plastic pencil cases hold importance. The goal is to maximise children’s time in classrooms, maximising learning time and minimising distractions. Michaela Community School would be just as successful if located in Hampstead, according to Birbalsingh, as the school creates an environment that should be the norm in all schools. Michaela looks forward to its first Ofsted Inspection in the near future and its first GCSE results in two years.