ERRR #071. Katharine Birbalsingh on Standards, Consistency, and what makes Michaela, Michaela

Katharine is the founder of Michaela Community School, a phenomenal school in Wembley, London. Michaela has the reputation of being the strictest school in Britain, and among the strictest schools in the world. From silent corridors, to the chanting of poetry, Michaela, and Katharine as its principal, has been at the centre of many debates and arguments around the effectiveness, the moral foundations, of their practices. 

At the same time, the results that Michaela students achieve are spectacular. Year on year its progress results place it amongst the top handful of schools in England, and it truly has materially improved the life opportunities of thousands of students from primarily disadvantaged backgrounds. 

Amongst all of this controversy, I was keen to go to Michaela and see this strictest school in Britain for myself! I was also lucky enough to have an hour with Katharine during my visit during which we had the discussion that you’re about to hear. 

It was an amazing visit, and I was absolutely blown away by the quality if teaching, the focus of the students, and the way that the school ran like clockwork. This visit to Michaela was quite revelatory to me. Put simply, I didn’t know just how high, ‘high standards’ could be, until I went to Michaela.

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Links/resources mentioned in the show

• To get a summary of this episode, sign up at www.patreon.com/errr 
• [We ran out of time for me to ask Katharine about recommendations as we strictly had on hour]
• Also see Ollie's Books, Cognitive Load Theory in Action and Tools for Teachers

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This episode of the ERRR podcast is brought to you by Catalyst. Catalyst transforms students' lives through learning by developing excellent teachers and Leaders through evidence-based professional learning programs. Find out more at https://catalyst.cg.catholic.edu.au/

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