A headteacher who made her name at a Tory party conference by claiming Britain’s education was ‘broken’ is to hire a ‘sergeant major’ detention chief.
Katharine Birbalsingh, a favourite of former education secretary Michael Gove, is advertising for a ‘detention director’ who believes children need ‘clear firm discipline’.
It is the latest in a line of strict measures at Michaela community school, a secondary free school in Wembley, which prides itself on ‘tough love’.
Miss Birbalsingh was criticised by parents just six months ago for imposing ‘lunch isolation’ on pupils whose parents are behind on school meal payments. Children who are put in lunch isolation are given a sandwich and piece of fruit instead of their usual hot meal with dessert, and made to sit on their own for the whole lunch hour. She later defended the policy, arguing that parents who refuse to pay are betraying their children’s education.
According to the school’s website, pupils can be put in detention for infractions including ‘turning around in class, calling out or being late’.
Other prohibited behaviour includes ‘failing to listen attentively, behaving badly outside of school, failing to bring correct equipment, and failing to complete homework’.
A job advertisement for the £35,000-a-year position published in the Times Educational Supplement says the school requires ‘a sergeant major in the detention room’ to bring order.
The role is ‘not suited to a would-be counsellor or to someone who wants to be every child’s best friend’, the advert states and adds that suitable candidates must believe that ‘allowing children to make excuses is unkind’ and ‘own the job like it is the most important thing in the world’.
Miss Birbalsingh, 43, rose to national prominence when her speech at the 2010 Tory party conference about failing schools provided the backdrop to Mr Gove’s sweeping education reforms.
