Britain’s “strictest headteacher” said multiculturalism must be “managed” for it to succeed, like it is in her school.
Speaking about the violent disorder that has broken out across the country, Katharine Birbalsingh, head of Michaela Community School in Wembley, said schools have a key role to play in making multiculturalism a success.
Around half of the 700 pupils at Michaela School are Muslim, and the school “aggressively” promotes integration. “Prayer rituals” are banned - a decision which was challenged in the High Court but found to be lawful.
In a series of messages on X, formerly Twitter, Ms Birbalsingh said: “At Michaela, we ask all kids to make sacrifices for the sake of the whole. The country should do the same.”
She added: “The country must manage its culture and its multiculturalism or it will not succeed. Same for schools. Same for the country.”
Michaela Community School is known for its outstanding results and strict ethos.
Writing on X, Ms Birbalsingh said: “The troubles we are seeing is proof that we are mishandling multiculturalism. That doesn’t mean minorities caused the Far Right to exist.
“It means we all have to find a way to get along and schools should be actively involved in making that happen. Unless we admit there is a problem, we will never fix it.”
She added: “The DfE [Department for Education] hasn’t given thought to how they should provide schools with the resources and training to actively manage multiculturalism.
“Also, rioting and violence. No one has taught them kindness, decency and self-sacrifice. Schools can and should do this. But we tend to think schools are just machines to get results. Schools are so much more. They help to shape society.”
It comes as UK enters a second week of violence in the wake of the Southport stabbings, in which three young girls were killed during a Taylor Swift themed dance class.
Axel Rudakubana, 17, has been charged with their murder and is due to return to court on October 25 for a plea hearing,
Police came under attack in several cities in the UK on Monday evening as the wave of violent disorder continued for a seventh day.
Rioters who smashed up in a weekend of shame have now been named and pictured.
It came as courts began sitting through the night to process hundreds of suspects.
