Headteacher of London school Michaela says policy is vital to ensure ‘children of all races and religions can thrive’

The headteacher of a school facing legal action over a ban on prayer rituals has defended the policy, arguing that it was vital in order to “maintain a successful learning environment where children of all races and religion can thrive”.

The case against Michaela community school in Brent, north-west London, which has been the subject of a two-day hearing at the high court in London this week, has been brought by one of its Muslim pupils, who claims the ban is discriminatory and is seeking to have it overturned.

Ban will come into force on Friday if approved by UK parliament, putting group on par with IS and al-Qaida

• Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir to be banned from organising in UK

Hizb ut-Tahrir, the revolutionary Islamist organisation that is to be banned from organising in the UK, has been agitating and recruiting in Britain for nearly 40 years.

A ban on the group, which has been called “antisemitic” by the home secretary, James Cleverly, will come into force on Friday if approved by parliament, in a move that will put it on a par with al-Qaida and Islamic State.