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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Katherine Birbalsingh?

132 replies

GreatJehosephat · 02/05/2025 07:22

She’s been popping up on tiktok for the last few days, and seems to be very divisive.

She appears to get amazing results, but then people point out she’s misrepresenting the truth as to who goes to her school, that they have far fewer children with SN, and can turn away children if they wish.

In rl she seems to be really polarised as well, so I thought I’d ask here and hope to learn more about her system and whether it’s cherry picked (as suggested) or if she has indeed created an amazing experience for her pupils.

My own opinion, based on the clips I’ve seen, is that the very strict rules would mostly be intolerable to any adult in a workplace and when you look at other academies who install strict rules it seems to impact heavily on the pupil’s mental health.
I believe there’s a place for such schools, and they work very well for some children, but I can think of plenty of children who need a different approach in order to produce a happy, productive population (in a way where people are mentally well enough to find employment - and we seem to be seeing a downturn in this and an upturn in young people being too stressed to do anything!).

OP posts:
BlossomBlanket · 02/05/2025 07:24

I don't know, but the only high-school available for my children is a holding pen for a high number of feral animals. It's a dangerous place both physically and psychologically. A bit of discipline would go a long way but it's way beyond that.

MojoMoon · 02/05/2025 07:27

She craves attention so will be delighted you've made a thread about her.

CopperWhite · 02/05/2025 07:31

It’s an unselective state school. They are allocated pupils in the same way as every other state school.

Her approach won’t work well for every child because there is no school that is perfect for every child. But for plenty, it works wonderfully and it’s a shame that all children don’t have access to this type of school.

Original poster
GreatJehosephat · 02/05/2025 07:31

MojoMoon · 02/05/2025 07:27

She craves attention so will be delighted you've made a thread about her.

Maybe, but I’m still interested in thoughts.
She’s either the devil or a genius from what I’ve read and heard. The reality is likely to be somewhere in the middle.

One thing I hate about the polarisation we have is that even with middle of the road views you’re considered wrong. With education though, every child has a right to an education. We’re currently seeing rising opinion that SN children are the problem, KB’s ethos appears to align with this so imo is short sighted. But I’m interested to learn more.

OP posts:
Sajacas · 02/05/2025 07:33

Go on youtube and watch one of the many long form discussions she has taken part in and make up your own mind.

I have watched a couple of discussions with her, and she seems pretty boringly sensible.
Although I disagree with her on vegetarianism.

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https://youtu.be/-egugS2spwM?si=pO3j-MXqiv4ujAjz

AlwaysFreezing · 02/05/2025 07:36

My issue with her school is that some people have no choice but to send their kids there. (I mean all state schools are the same, in the sense that a parent can't pick any school and get a place at it) but the reality is that most state schools aren't as extreme as this.

But as I understand it, lots of people want this school for their children.

No school that caters to hundreds of pupils is going to suit them all. But this seems....excessive in its approach.

twistyizzy · 02/05/2025 07:37

She has no control over the admissions process to her school ie it isn't selective so she deals with what she's given.
She is vilified by so many on here yet they are the same ones who say parents are too permissive and schools aren't tough enough on discipline!

She knows her kids, she knows what the school stands for and she makes no apologies about that. She sets the kids who leave her school up for success in life. That should never be a bad thing!
KB also acknowledges to prospective parents that her school won't suit all children and that they shouldn't choose her school if they don't buy into the ethos.
Therefore she has (in the main) a hugely supportive parental base and is an example of what can be done when this happens. Most other schools would pay to have the level of parental engagement she does.

Do I agree 100% with her on everything? No I don't but I agree with her more than I disagree with her. Plus she is taking Phillipson on and calling out the highly damaging new Schools Bill so that earns brownie points in my book!

porridgecake · 02/05/2025 07:38

BlossomBlanket · 02/05/2025 07:24

I don't know, but the only high-school available for my children is a holding pen for a high number of feral animals. It's a dangerous place both physically and psychologically. A bit of discipline would go a long way but it's way beyond that.

Exactly. We have to worry so much about whether our children are safe in school, their actual education is a secondary issue.Some schools are psychologically and physically terrifying places.

Original poster
GreatJehosephat · 02/05/2025 07:58

My local high school is an academy, in the same town as a grammar school.

The main aim of the academy was value adding, taking non selected children and getting excellent results, which to a point they have done - many of their pupils outperformed grammar school pupils in GCSEs which was an incredible achievement, but what people didn’t see was the large number of children left mentally ill from their experiences there, which fuelled many a local discussion that schools shouldn’t cater for those that struggle over those that thrive, which I understand, but my issue was always that the other options have all but gone and the academy style rules are trickling into other schools meaning that there are even fewer places for children who don’t thrive in a draconian environment.

Feral schools are also a huge problem, but no one seems to know how to even start tackling them.

OP posts:
Motherknowsrest · 02/05/2025 08:02

Gobby grifter. I suspect her good results are mostly due to pushy parents selecting the school and the children with special needs heading off somewhere else.

twistyizzy · 02/05/2025 08:03

Motherknowsrest · 02/05/2025 08:02

Gobby grifter. I suspect her good results are mostly due to pushy parents selecting the school and the children with special needs heading off somewhere else.

Do you know anything about her or her school in the slightest??

Motherknowsrest · 02/05/2025 08:06

twistyizzy · 02/05/2025 08:03

Do you know anything about her or her school in the slightest??

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Yes, she runs a very strict school. Everything I have read about it sounds awful.

twistyizzy · 02/05/2025 08:08

Motherknowsrest · 02/05/2025 08:06

Yes, she runs a very strict school. Everything I have read about it sounds awful.

Show quote history

So you really know nothing then.
Suggest you read up on her, not from The Grauniad, and see how she changes the life chances of many kids!
Are you aware of the crisis in education at moment eg behaviour, violence, sexual assault etc? Read up on all of that then come back and tell me which school you would prefer your precious child to be at!

LobeliaBaggins · 02/05/2025 08:13

I would have no issues sending my kids there. I don't agree with her on many things, but I suspect we would agree on most things. I like discipline, good results and emphasis on education and respecting teachers.

Nominative · 02/05/2025 08:17

CopperWhite · 02/05/2025 07:31

It’s an unselective state school. They are allocated pupils in the same way as every other state school.

Her approach won’t work well for every child because there is no school that is perfect for every child. But for plenty, it works wonderfully and it’s a shame that all children don’t have access to this type of school.

But they work hard to put off those who won't enhance their league table results, e.g. by failing to meet SEN or even to recognise them, and by excluding others.

AnneLovesGilbert · 02/05/2025 08:19

Feral schools are also a huge problem, but no one seems to know how to even start tackling them.

But she does, that’s the point.

Summerhillsquare · 02/05/2025 08:20

You're dead right about it being intolerable for adults. Why do we think children deserve such poor treatment in the UK? Rhetorical question...

Nominative · 02/05/2025 08:21

She sets the kids who leave her school up for success in life. That should never be a bad thing!

Not sure that she does. The teaching methods are very prescriptive, with the children essentially being provided with stock answers and stock essays which they're expected to regurgitate on demand. It doesn't teach them to think for themselves, which has the distinct danger of leaving them at a major disadvantage in adulthood.

twistyizzy · 02/05/2025 08:22

Nominative · 02/05/2025 08:21

She sets the kids who leave her school up for success in life. That should never be a bad thing!

Not sure that she does. The teaching methods are very prescriptive, with the children essentially being provided with stock answers and stock essays which they're expected to regurgitate on demand. It doesn't teach them to think for themselves, which has the distinct danger of leaving them at a major disadvantage in adulthood.

Her school gives them the GCSE results they need in order to have choices and be able to progress in life. Some of these kids would have otherwise ended up with very few options after school. That's a success

Needmorelego · 02/05/2025 08:23

CopperWhite · 02/05/2025 07:31

It’s an unselective state school. They are allocated pupils in the same way as every other state school.

Her approach won’t work well for every child because there is no school that is perfect for every child. But for plenty, it works wonderfully and it’s a shame that all children don’t have access to this type of school.

It's an "unselective" school but I imagine it will only accept pupils who had it listed as one of their 6 choices.
If it wasn't on a choice list they won't be allocated it.
If it was under subscribed and a local child didn't get any of their 6 choices then they might get allocated there - but as far as I know it isn't under subscribed.

LobeliaBaggins · 02/05/2025 08:24

OP, which rules of hers do you think would be unacceptable to adults?

wrongthinker · 02/05/2025 08:25

You can visit the school OP, meet the students, and see for yourself.

katkintreats · 02/05/2025 08:35

When it comes to schools, I personally think variety is more than just the spice of life, it’s absolutely essential to inclusion. If schools are all different, then a child who cannot manage in one school has the chance of trying something different and succeeding in the next.
Schools that are all the same mean that some children are excluded from the entire education system.

Michaela is not for me, I dislike her ethos, but it will appeal to others, and as long as I have options that suit me too, live and let live.

WayneEyre · 02/05/2025 08:39

twistyizzy · 02/05/2025 08:22

Her school gives them the GCSE results they need in order to have choices and be able to progress in life. Some of these kids would have otherwise ended up with very few options after school. That's a success

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I think this is an interesting chicken and egg point with limited resources and time to teach critical thinking and capture attention spans.

I'd love to see small classes having philosophical chats or going into the fine detail of their set texts and really getting to the bottom of understanding them. But they won't. Not for a lot of kids anyway.

I wonder whether ex pupils are likely to become better thinkers, managers, workers, students, creators etc in their lives going forwards once they have those basic results to move onwards in interesting ways, or whether they will take on board the lesson that 'path of least resistance' is the way when it comes to thinking of solutions. I'd see that as a fine balance.

twistyizzy · 02/05/2025 08:42

WayneEyre · 02/05/2025 08:39

I think this is an interesting chicken and egg point with limited resources and time to teach critical thinking and capture attention spans.

I'd love to see small classes having philosophical chats or going into the fine detail of their set texts and really getting to the bottom of understanding them. But they won't. Not for a lot of kids anyway.

I wonder whether ex pupils are likely to become better thinkers, managers, workers, students, creators etc in their lives going forwards once they have those basic results to move onwards in interesting ways, or whether they will take on board the lesson that 'path of least resistance' is the way when it comes to thinking of solutions. I'd see that as a fine balance.

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Show me any mainstream state school which does any of this? There simply isn't space in the curriculum and most teachers spend majority of lessons doing behaviour management. Your wants are admirable but unrealistic in current education climate