Julia Hartley-Brewer meets Katharine Birbalsingh

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Julia’s guest is Katharine Birbalsingh, founder and headteacher of Michaela Community School, a free school in inner-city London. Katharine first hit the headlines when she spoke out about failing state schools at the Tory party conference in 2010.
She was forced out of her deputy head job by the “Education Blob”, leading her to set up her own “free school” in a deprived inner-city neighbourhood where pupils have achieved astonishing results against all the odds.
Katharine and Julia discuss why the Labour Party’s policy to abolish private schools may not improve standards for state school pupils, why teachers are failing pupils from poorer homes, and why 'old fashioned' discipline and teaching methods could be the best way to deliver a top-class education for every child.

[@ronoli9447]

When Blair said education, education, education, he actually meant indoctrination, indoctrination, indoctrination.

[@barriejackson3294]

My thoughts exactly!!

[@andrewmartin6445]

I was about to type exactly that phrase but you beat me to it, Ron!

[@PhilBaird1]

That's b*llocks. Blair didn't know what Katherine knows. People like Katherine weren't around when New Labour came to power. Progressive educational methods were still intellectually in the ascendant.

[@rakhimukerji7937]

I DISAGREe

[@alexc8209]

all of this is music to my ears, this lady should be in charge of the entire education system.

[@matthewgodwin3050]

I'll second that. This woman is amazing.

[@lazylaurablue]

Agreed. She is a true inspiration; an incredible lady.

[@TechToWatch]

Not hyperbole. Literally true.

[@djanitatiana]

For God's sake give this woman a damehood straight away and make her the minister for education.

[@djanitatiana]

@Quincy Breed You're right, of course, she just needs to be duly recognised for a fantastic character and dedication to her students.

[@nicotina4082]

Like Julia best when she's having a go at loony lefties on talk radio 😁

[@nickdonnelly3295]

This is so refreshing, a head teacher talking common sense!

[@lucytvlucytv9416]

Wow. What a wonderful inspiration. Every MP should be fighting to talk to this brilliant woman to change our failing schools.

[@mg_claymore8611]

I'm 21. So it wasnt long ago that I was in school. This teacher has all the right ideas. Great work.

[@user-et3ep5zi1l]

I wish she was in charge of my kid's school . The Scottish education system is now a woke joke

[@RupeWilson]

Don't ban private schools, Just make our public schools to the same standard. Stop wasting money on foreign aid and fund things like schools. invest in the young.

[@fluoridefree]

Stop wasting £100s millions on vaccines

[@RkristinaTay]

It's clearly not much to do with money investment.

[@mishyanne]

Julia is a great interviewer. I love the way she sits back and gives her guests the floor. Shame on those who cost this head teacher her job, yet undeterred, she went on to do great things and inspire so many children who without her would have fallen through the net..

[@Maelli535]

This woman is a genius - long ago, I was a teacher and she addresses all the things that are still so familiar, and made me very unhappy as a teacher, because there was no hope of any real success - for me or the kids I was teaching. That was why I left a profession I thought I would love. Instead, it very nearly killed me.

[@paulgarrod4617]

Love this lady and her school. She stands up for her system of learning and that the amount of money and upbringing a child has is no excuse. We need to seriously look at the education system we have and make it the best in the world. I feel the progressive system used by by the tree huggers is failing our children. Time for a radical change.

[@lee0001]

At last, someone who tells the students "its their individual responsibility" The school gives the tools, the students do the work...

[@jackrainbow560]

You are blaming the child, you are a child abusive asshole. You have not understood what Birbalsingh is saying.

[@adarkimpurity]

I partially agree with the sentiment but, it's a terrible metaphor for what a teacher does.

[@jley1823]

@@jackrainbow560 Hey now. Lee Ryan was in Blue (British boy band from the 2000's) so let's be courteous, please. lee ryan N.B. /It is/ is often contracted in spoken and written English as /it's/ The possesive form of /it/ is NOT /it/ followed by /'s/, as one might imagine, extrapolating from the rule employed with every other subject capable of possessing an object. E.g. "For the writing of Blue's debut single 'All Rise', Lee Ryan was not included in the process. It has been suggested that its success, reaching no. 1 in the U.S. and U.K. billboard charts, is at least partly due to this alternative writing arrangement." Lee, I'm sure you had all this stuff down when you were penning those majestic paens to love in the modern age, but you must keep practising your English. P.S. I watched you in the Big Brother house. Fascinating stuff! Really. Any plans to do any more reality T.V.?

[@Johnny-sj9sj]

Jack Rainbow - well done! Very delicately put 🤬

[@clivelittle831]

What a fantastic person Katherine is, a breath of fresh air in the current political climate.

[@johnniefortune1872]

Hugely impressed by Katherine and her teaching methodologies.

[@YG-hn7hh]

agree

[@offwiththefairies77]

methodologies. ;)

[@johnniefortune1872]

@@offwiththefairies77 much appreciated. Will correct. I should have attended Katherine's school.

[@Georgexb]

It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, believe me (I’m a teacher)

[@wiseonwords]

@@Georgexb - Why don't you explain why and offer some evidence? Your comment would hold more weight if you had that basic courtesy. But I guess it's much easier for you to make snide comments! No doubt you're part of the leftwing luvvie teaching establishment.

[@Marcus538]

I went to cheapy private school , run on a shoe string , honest decent firm , blackboard desks , sport excellent , discipline My daughters state school - a prison , rolling in cash , equipnent , teachers with hours of time to piss about & waste playing idiots , totally useless , I educated ny kids

[@PJ-go9jw]

The old fashioned ideas of 'discipline' and personal responsibility NOT 'It is always somebody else's fault'

[@S8250503]

Blair translation, “ Indoctrination, Indoctrination, Indoctrination.”

[@annette2653]

Blair: PFI, PFI, PFI

[@S8250503]

Annette Catherine the gift that keeps taking.

[@Pathofplenty]

Everyone has to respect hard working teachers and nurses who are passionate. They do the real work just like our nation's builders and engineers. Our back bone. Crack on!

[@StephenTovey1960]

how great is this woman...she is telling us what us normal folk always believed....that we should be given a chance to work out of desperate situations, not excused from escaping them...

[@LeedsUnitedJohn]

Most of Labour's front bench send their kids to fee paying schools. This is hypocrisy from them. Well done Katherine.

[@mzhavisham6738]

Inspiring Lady what a wonderful teacher who obviously cares so much for her pupils.....totally agree with what she says! a breath of fresh air.

[@nascar0509]

Practically the entire public sector in a nutshell.... "It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong." Thomas Sowell.

[@MrCameronian]

Great quote, thanks.

[@tinabrighton2202]

how inspiring and encouraging for future generations,. We need more Katherine Barbalsinghs in the system.- urgently.

[@helenoffell2360]

What a wonderful woman !!!!!

[@barriejackson3294]

Wow - Julia - can't thank you enough for this interview. All the depressing years of "loony left/liberal/everybody wins a prize on sportsday" etc, etc have been blown away by Katharine's passion and commitment! Just the antidote to all the nonsense displayed by our politicians - she actually said "BRITISH"!!!! it was like having the most exciting dream - I'm sure I'll wake up to some Corbynista educationalist telling me that Katharine has been "taken away" for "re-education" and her school closed down. Thanks again

[@MariaSpooon]

Both of these ladies are brilliant.

[@ejjohnstone1984]

Top marks for this inspirational interview with a legendary headmistress...thank you!

[@BusterCapInYoAss]

Huge respect for this lady. For those asking why not roll it out nationally. Education isn’t a “one size fits all” thing. We’ve made too many of those mistakes, not to have learned from them, surely?

[@jamesmungeam]

Katherine should be teaching other heads up and down the country how to duplicate her fantastic methods.

[@rolandguilford8301]

What a first class person! Katharine should be minister of education.

[@davetdowell]

Katharine Birbalsingh, thank you. For your bravery in speaking up, and facing the cost of that. For understanding that at our core Britain is supposed to be a place where everyone gets to speak up, even if the view the expressed goes against the grain of accepted thought. For your courage in recognising the potential in our children, and in making them understand their potential is entirely in their hands, and of course for providing them with the fundamentals they need to achieve their dreams. Please keep doing what you are doing.

[@jayrrees]

Really enjoying this podcast show. Great interviews!

[@nosmokeey]

This head teacher is on the money and hopefully gets the recognition she rightly deserves and Julia always gets the best from her gusts, good or bad , good in this case , well done 👍

[@DeutschlandReformen]

what Nelson Mandela was and continues to be at the helm of a movement and nation, inspiring millions globally, this woman does that the same her own way - leading her school, with an unprecedented mix of discipline, authority, enthusiasm - and love for what she does. Mrs. Birbalsingh proves that normal people can become heroes - thank your sincerely for your inspiration and being the captain of your soul!

[@Broonzied]

Crushing talent and independent thought on the altar of 'equality' is inherent in far left ideology as evidenced throughout 20th century. Can you imagine this lady on the Labour front bench? No, neither can I, she is way too smart.

[@andykenyon2607]

Fascinating listening to this lady. I hope she inspires the teaching profession.

[@JimAckroyd]

When I looked at the title of this video, I thought to myself, that looks boring. For some reason I let it play and it was like reading one of those books you don't want to put down. I really enjoyed this Julia. Thank you and thanks to Katharine as well.

[@TheLeon1032]

what a bloody amazing woman!

[@ganganmaroon9545]

Excellent discussion.

[@pm4469]

Fantastic teacher.

[@boatfaceslim9005]

Fabulous woman. Personal responsibility is absolutely key.

[@nascar0509]

Watching the Labour conference was nauseating and more than any.sane person can stand.

[@davidatherton1780]

Listening to this lady speak is a breath of fresh air in todays pathetic woke society

[@grahamcroome2109]

A common sense attitude to the education of our children. Let's leave the teaching to teachers and let the politicians take a back seat......Well done Katharine........

[@jackrainbow560]

Years ago I was having a conversation with a parent whose child of 6 was having great difficulty with learning to read. I asked her "Do you have many books in the house?" She said "Well no, we don't read much." I asked her again: "You don't read books yourself?" "I don't get the time." She said. I explained to her that children copy their parents. If they see the parents reading and the house is full of books, they will develop a positive attitude. Your child has difficulty reading because of your attitude in having no books in the house and not encouraging him to read yourself." There were gasps of outrage from other parents, one women began to shout at me that I was rude and offensive.

[@wiseonwords]

"You come and see my teachers. They are best teachers in the world!" What a great Head Teacher! She's truly inspirational.

[@fairyhead9930]

She is fantastic, so inspiring! I wish she had been my teacher when I was at school.

[@pennyforit1232]

What a wise lady.

[@magsmum1963]

Really enjoyed this conversation. What a fantastic woman !!! Her love of the job just shines through. I have never before heard such an inspirational teacher. Love your pod and radio show by the way Julia.

[@DBS6567]

excellent interview, i've seen Katharine in a few different interviews, she has a passion about her job, that my teachers never did, don't get me wrong i had some memorable teachers, but so few. i wish her all the best at her school. it has all the values in the right places, i wish there were more schools like this. and as an aside. Corbyn wanting to ban private schools ??? really ??? just for that proposal alone he should 't be aloud anywhere near downing street.

[@TheDailyGroov]

Keep fighting the good fight Julia x

[@DeutschlandReformen]

please, Mrs. Hartley-Brewer, let the guest do more the talk, especially this great teacher so full of wisdom!

[@Myway953]

This lady is fantastic of her straight talking plus common sense. Children must abide by the rules of the school. Discipline starts at school and takes you through life. It makes the children feel this is there place and the teachers make the children feel welcome and interacting with them.

[@MrCameronian]

A truly great woman.

[@brucevilla]

Thanks for Uploading.

[@johnharding6394]

The Labour and Islamic Party won't to bring the education levels down to one level as if they were educated they would never vote for them they need very thick people

[@ryanborder189]

My God-someone in Education who talks sense. Can we make her Education Secretary!!!

[@Sukerkin]

I first came across Katharine, on a podcast, only a few months back and she blew my socks off with her sincerity, passion and obvious ability. Wonderful woman and, clearly, a splendid professional in her role.

[@mrjagriff]

God can only imagine the raging, steaming ,furious head swivelling rage of any lefty listening to this 😡😠🤬🤯🤯

[@shonabeggs9680]

What an amazing lady, no wonder her school and pupils are doing so well with her at the helm. Every school should be excellent in their OFSTED results for facilities, staff, teaching methods & children's behaviour, exam results can and will vary but if a child is taught to follow rules , be polite & take pride in themselves they will fare better in life. How many schools consistently score terribly & nothing changes, what's the point of OFSTED?. Every teacher should be excellent. All the left want to do is bring every child down to the level of the lowest performer so he/she "doesn't feel excluded", what a nonsense. Raise kids up, don't knock them down.

[@iainrae6159]

Excellent intelligent conversation between two women who refuse to play the 'poor me victim' card.

[@AutoAlligator]

I like how enthusiastic she is about teaching kids. She proved her point to me.

[@valeriedruce5152]

What a fantastic Head Teacher, great interview

[@jancuk8881]

People should look at videos about Common Core education, or just Core in the UK, it stops the kids being creative and they have to learn as part of the group, so no one can excel in subjects they are good at because they have to work at the same speed as the rest of the class; This was a deliberate dumbing down of the education system. What a wonderful lady this teacher is, a great interview.

[@janebarrett6543]

Amazing lady.. wish there were more teachers like her

[@mincedumplings7450]

I'm skint , work non stop to pay for my daughter's education rather than put her in a left leaning indoctrination system , IV had no holidays for 12 yr , but I know my daughter enjoys learning and is happy at school , it's not just middle class that make the sacrifice for there children , labour just want to punish anyone that isn't labour ,! Peace

[@jonathanharte3125]

its great to hear someone online with common sense, sounds like an amazing teacher

[@MrBubble78]

I love this women x I used to listen to her all the time before two Bob LBC sacked her

[@jeanwallace1549]

We need thousands of teachers with this level of passion and lots of financial support. Bless them all.

[@tonyneve2410]

What a great interview, refreshing and informative. Carry on your great work, thank you.

[@tbrandon-king1928]

Love your work. A good balanced view of the situation. Exposing the nonsense that these people expound. Keep it up.

[@tomhickson8313]

Just discovered this channel going straight over to the podcast and find you there well done JHB PS ( only wish you was over in Brussels sorting this mess out ) PPS JHB 4 PM 👍👍👍👍

[@keitheldershaw9428]

I have been following Ms Birbalsingh for some time, and rejoiced at the school's GSCE results. Her philosophy of the school which combines parents, students and the teaching staff reminds me of the utter failure that has been occurring in Australian schools. A case in point. About 20 years ago a parliamentary delegation was invited to visit Singapore, as the school results there had been outstanding and continue up to this day. The delegation asked what formula; principles, teacher training that was employed in Singapore that made for such incredible results? The Singaporean minister and his staff were silent and somewhat confused, until the minister said, ''Well, we just copied what you used to do in Australia, as it was so successful."" Australia each year falls further behind in educational results across ALL fields because it decided those teacher unions dictating educational policies and curricula knew what children OUGHT to be taught, and HOW. Of course, the principles developed by the different states basically adhere to the model that Ms Birbalsingh's school has rejected. Need I say more?

[@gregbaker6512]

God bless this lady best wishes always hope you get this message we'll done A +

[@marcioc9044]

That is a proper teacher!!!

[@jacquelinetaylor8683]

Why isnt this inspiring teacher the Education minister. Never mind that she hasnt been elected as an MP she really understands what children need to succeed in education and life.

[@babslynch8139]

love this wonderful woman. wishing Katharine every success.

[@artysan21]

I love this interview, Julia and Katherine. Katherine's amazing drive to make things happen and achieve what she sets out to achieve. She cultivates the seed of desire to the children to grow and be fruitful. We need people like her as teachers and heads in our education establishments with the same aspirations and drive,, not some pen-pushers or a bunch of politicians or Ofsted officers who know a little what education is all about but have full of their political ideology.. I am a teacher of academic subjects and martial arts. I have similar philosophy in delivering my subjects to my pupils to achieve their goals; succesful and meaningful end of learning whilst enjoying their learning.. Well done Katherine! I hope one day i can see you in person.

[@childe13weston54]

Two wonderful people.

[@joannecoward3955]

How inspirational and interesting I would have loved a teacher like Katharine. The children at her school are very lucky to have her and the people in the know should listen to her

[@joshuanesbit]

what an incredibly talented educator

[@johnmac1960]

I don't want this interview to end...keep going!

[@nedpamphilon]

Very enjoyable conversation.

[@PeterJones-yq1xw]

A truly inspiring lady. She’s a brave individual who has shown that it’s the system that’s failing our children. 14 years in education and so many know so little.

[@fainitesbarley2245]

If your home life is crap, a good education is your way out.

[@anc2632]

What a wonderful, inspiring, woman

[@tryordiegarage]

Sending private pupils to state schools will simply end up bringing them down...

[@alistaircroll1036]

She's just brilliant

[@tcmalley]

Great interview! Enjoyed both of you very much ladies.

[@pulmo1]

What an inspirational person.

[@vertigofall]

Wow! What a woman! Bravo! I'm going to make the head teacher of my kids' school watch this! Er.....did I use the apostrophe correctly there.....?

[@johnlochness]

What an amazing lady.

[@johnmac1960]

WOW this headteacher makes so much sense!

[@Rosebud100]

Katherine for HEAD OF EDUCATION: for ALL of the UK - please 🙏

[@stme5067]

I loved the book March of the tiger teachers, I learned more from that from a whole year of teacher training. I have since left the profession after 5 years because I had no support from the school when I tried to concentrate on the actual learning. The seniors and support staff said I was too strict and they actively gave excuses for the kids and completely undermined me. This was in two schools in two counties. Such a shame because I loved it and was loved by the kids who actually wanted to work.

[@tobyfraser9711]

So, so refreshing to hear

[@doctorbritain9632]

My Children are finished school {in Canada} but I would really like my Grandchildren to go to a school like this. I'm not moving to that part of London though... 😂

[@jonsey156]

Wow !! - Something Positive for a change - Great interview girls !! More Katharins needed methinks !!

[@mrjesabi]

Love this mindset please bring your ideas to Ireland,we need it.

[@hihi5818]

If there were more people like Katharine and Jordan Peterson in education I would probably still be teaching