A High Court judge has ruled any disadvantage to Muslim pupils caused by a prayer ban at Michaela Community School was “outweighed by the aims it seeks to promote in the interests of the school community as a whole”.
The judgment in favour of the free school in Wembley, north London, often referred to as “Britain’s strictest”, was handed down by Mr Justice Linden this morning, although he did rule in favour of the claimant for one lesser allegation.
The judge ruled: “The disadvantage to Muslim pupils at the school caused by the PRP (prayer ritual policy) was outweighed by the aims which it seeks to promote in the interests of the school community as a whole, including Muslim pupils.”
It follows a two-day judicial review hearing in January, when lawyers for the Muslim pupil, who cannot be named for legal reasons, argued the ban breached equality laws and her freedom of religion, claiming it disproportionately impacts Muslim students.
