Renowned headteacher Katharine Birbalsingh has launched a scathing critique of Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson’s approach to academies, warning that Labour’s plans would strip schools of vital freedoms.
It comes as MPs scrutinise Labours School Bill, which would remove academy freedoms over curriculum, teacher recruitment, pay and conditions.
Speaking on GB News, Birbalsingh accused Phillipson of misleading the public about her support for academies while planning to dismantle their autonomy.
“Bridget Phillipson is now going to take those freedoms away from our academies, which essentially makes them into schools,” Birbalsingh said.
Britain’s strictest headteacher fumed at Labour
GB News
“When she claims to say, I love academies, but then, at the same time, is taking away the freedoms from academies that makes them academies, she’s essentially turning us into schools. So its just not true, she doesn’t love academies.”
Birbalsingh’s criticism comes as her school continues to demonstrate remarkable academic success, with results rivalling Britain’s most prestigious institutions.
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The headteacher of Michaela Community School revealed that her institution achieved 52 per cent grade nines last year, nearly matching Eton College’s 53 per cent.
This exceptional performance has drawn international attention to the school’s methods.
“We get 800 visitors a year at Michaela from all over the world, and so do lots of really good schools in England because of the amazing work we’re doing, thanks to the freedoms we’ve got,” Birbalsingh explained.
These freedoms, she argued, are what enable academy leaders to provide “a bespoke and tailored offer to their particular community.”
Bridget Phillipson is the Education secretary
PA
The school’s achievements demonstrate the potential of the academy model when given the autonomy to implement innovative approaches to education.
She added: “I’ve invited Bridget Philipson three times to come and see Michaela. Why not come and see what we’re doing and learn from what we’re doing?
“At no point did she probe and say, Tell me, what is it you did exactly?
“Was it your teaching methods? Was it your strictness, because you’re known as the strictest Headmistress? Is it your values?”
“She seemed quite proud of the fact that she’d been to schools that were underperforming and I have no problem with her going to those schools,” Birbalsingh added.
“What she wants is uniformity across the school system, which is owned by central government.
“When I call her a Marxist, what I mean is she’s taking the few freedoms we’ve got as head teachers and school leaders and is returning them to government.”
A Department for Education spokesman said: “We would not comment on what was a private meeting, held in good faith.
“As the Education Secretary said in her speech at the Centre for Social Justice, debate around education policy is welcome, and ministers will always meet with a wide range of stakeholders, with a range of different views.”