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Radical with Amol Rajan

British Identity: How Schools Can Improve Multiculturalism (Katharine Birbalsingh)

Radical with Amol Rajan

BBC

Society & Culture

4.5917 Ratings

🗓️ 2 October 2025

⏱️ 67 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Headteacher Katharine Birbalsingh thinks multiculturalism in Britain has led to an excessive focus on our differences rather than what unites us, but she believes schools like hers can change that by teaching traditional values and British culture.

Known for enforcing strict discipline at Michaela Community School in north London, Katharine explains why she promotes unity over diversity.

She is also critical of those in power who ignore what she sees as the concerns of “white British people”, which she says breeds resentment towards minorities.

And she tells Amol why she's opposed to the government’s school’s bill and what she makes of Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.

In a statement the Department for Education said: "This government is delivering transformative education reforms so every child can achieve and thrive, regardless of their background or postcode because expecting a great education for all children should never be controversial.

"The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill will be a seminal moment for the safety and success of our children, introducing common-sense measures backed by parents and teachers that ensure excellence and support - from highly qualified teachers and a cutting-edge curriculum, to reduced costs for families through breakfast clubs and school uniforms.”

GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent.

Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davies. Technical production was by James Piper. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

Transcript

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0:00.0

BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, podcasts.

0:05.6

Hello and welcome to Radical.

0:08.1

Something amazing is happening right now.

0:09.9

We are building a real community of radicals.

0:13.3

Loads and loads of you have come up to me in the street over the past week, not just in London, but beyond, to say that you're loving this podcast and that you're

0:20.8

absolutely buying into our mission, which is to get really inside the zeitgeist and make sense

0:27.1

of this crazy era in human history. And that includes encouraging you to encounter and engage

0:33.2

with people that you might disagree with, as long as they are smart, influential and radical.

0:39.4

Our guest today is someone with no shortage of views on where Britain, in her view, is going

0:44.7

badly wrong. She has been an outspoken and prominent advocate of state education reform

0:49.8

for about 15 years now because she is the founder and head teacher of Michaela Community School in North London.

0:56.2

It's achieved extraordinary results, but she's made some enemies along the way.

0:59.9

She is Catherine Beable Singh.

1:01.7

But what's so interesting about this conversation, which you're about to hear,

1:04.6

is that in an era of insurgent national populism,

1:08.1

rising concern about legal and illegal migration, with a whole question

1:11.9

of British identity and flags and patriotism feels at the top of the public agenda. It's her views

1:17.1

on multiculturalism in Britain and beyond that perhaps feel most salient of all. I hope you

1:23.2

enjoy this conversation with Catherine Beable Singh.

1:40.1

Thank you. Enjoy this conversation with Catherine Beable Singh. Catherine, how nice to see you?

1:42.1

Is this the first time we've met?

1:44.9

Yes, I think so, even though I feel like I've known you for many years.

...

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