Guest appearances

Katharine BirbalsinghEvery podcast appearance, updated as new ones drop

Podcast guest — appeared on E2 Review: Politics, Discussion, Debate, Best of the Spectator and 15 other shows.

Most recently spotted 28 days ago on “Best of the Spectator”.
Episodes
18
Shows
17
Hours
~14

Tracked from 23 Jul 2017 to 28 Jul 2026

Recent guest appearances

Show 18 episodes
  • Quite right!: Katharine Birbalsingh interview

    Katharine Birbalsingh is the founder and headmistress of Michaela Community School in Wembley, and has been dubbed Britain’s strictest headteacher. Under her leadership, Michaela has become one of the country’s most successful state schools, while openly challenging the progressive orthodoxies of the British education system. On Quite right! , Katharine argues that ethnic-minority pupils do not need to see themselves reflected in every aspect of a culture to feel that they belong – and that suggesting otherwise may itself be racist. She and Michael also discuss whether individualistic parenting has gone too far, why ritual should be at the heart of British schools and why children need a return to small-c conservative values. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Why Michaela’s Behaviour Policy Actually Works with Katharine Birbalsingh
    The School Podcast

    Strict behaviour policies are constantly criticised but why do some schools succeed while others struggle to maintain standards? In this episode of The School Podcast, Cameron Parker sits down with Katharine Birbalsingh, founder and headteacher of Michaela Community School, to unpack what really creates strong school culture and consistent behaviour. Together they explore: 🎯 Why most behaviour policies fail in practice 🔥 The importance of consistency across every member of staff 💬 How leadership culture shapes teacher behaviour 👔 Why school uniform matters more than people think 💪 The difference between authority and authoritarian leadership 📚 How servant leadership can raise standards without lowering expectations Katharine explains why culture starts with leadership, why “sweating the small stuff” matters, and how schools can transform behaviour by getting staff fully aligned behind clear expectations. If you care about school culture, behaviour and educational leadership this conversation will challenge the way you think about discipline in schools. HUGE thank you to our sponsor Nisai Learning, an online school in the UK and worldwide providing flexible, accredited education: https://www.nisai.com This episode is brought to you by Cameron Parker (UK's #1 Motivational Speaker for Secondary Schools) and Education Media. 👉 Watch, subscribe and share if you believe teachers deserve strong leadership and clear standards. #TheSchoolPodcast #KatharineBirbalsingh #Education #SchoolLeadership #BehaviourManagement

  • How should we educate our kids? with Katharine Birbalsingh - The Shape of Dialogue #46

    Katharine Birbalsingh, CBE, is the Headmistress and co-founder of Michaela Community School in Wembley, London. She was Chair of the Social Mobility Commission from 2021 to 2023. Michaela School is renowned for its high standards of behaviour and academic achievement, knowledge curriculum and teaching of kindness and gratitude. In 2017, Ofsted graded the school as ‘Outstanding’ in every category. In 2022, almost 75% of all GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 (A* to A). 98% of pupils achieved a 4+ (C or above) in both English and Maths, with 99% of all pupils achieving grade 9 to 4 (A* to C) in at least 5 subjects. Katharine read Philosophy and Modern Languages at the University of Oxford and has always taught in inner London. She has made numerous appearances on television and radio and has written for several UK publications. Katharine has written 2 books and edited 2 more, including The Power of Culture (published in June 2020). Katharine was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours by the Queen. https://michaela.education/

  • Leading With Conviction | A Conversation with Katharine Birbalsingh

    Katharine Birbalsingh, founder of Britain's most talked-about school, reveals the leadership principles that transformed her vision into reality. From her converted office building in London, Michaela Community School has achieved the highest progress scores in England for three consecutive years, with results that rival the country's most elite institutions. Katharine shares her unflinching approach to leadership - one built on absolute clarity of vision, radical simplicity, and the power of authentic conversation. She explains why autonomy isn't just about freedom from interference, but about creating genuine ownership throughout your organisation, and how saying 'no' to good ideas can be the key to extraordinary results. Katharine discusses the ice cream cone analogy that will change how you think about school improvement, why she's never used an agenda in a meeting, and how the dating world can teach us about setting standards with parents and staff. Whether you agree with her methods or not, her insights on building culture, having difficult conversations, and leading with unwavering standards offer valuable lessons for any school leader looking to create meaningful change. This conversation will challenge your assumptions about what it means to lead with true conviction. Links Michaela Community School - MichaelaMichaela Community School | Welcome to Michaela E.D. Hirsch's "The Schools We Need and Why We Don't Have Them" (1999) - Available on Goodreads - Educational philosophy book that influenced Katharine's approach Katharine's Books: "To Miss with Love" (2011) - Her memoir based on her teaching blog "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Teachers: The Michaela Way" (2016) - Editor "Michaela: The Power of Culture" (2020) - Editor Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive Shane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling ' Change Starts Here .' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world. You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky . or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • The Sam Sorbo Show with Katharine Birbalsingh
    The Sam Sorbo Show

    On this episode of The Sam Sorbo Show , I welcome the woman known as the “world’s strictest headmistress", Katharine Birbalsingh. We get into what made her message so impactful, why her approach to education is shaking things up, and the remarkable success of Michaela School. You don’t want to miss this one. Listen now! -------------------- Unlock exclusive discounts, discover where to purchase my books, explore my homeschool and curriculum recommendations, and so much more—all in one place! Click the link to take advantage of these incredible resources. Don’t miss out—start exploring today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/samsorbo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you to my sponsor The Herzog Foundation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://herzogfoundation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  • The Michaela Way: How traditional teaching transforms lives with Katharine Birbalsingh & Glenn Fahey

    In this episode, renowned educator and "Britain's strictest headmistress" , Katharine Birbalsingh shares her philosophy on education that has propelled her school to the top performance rating in the country. She challenges the progressive teaching methods that dominate Western education and explains why true compassion means holding students accountable regardless of background. Our guest reveals how her school transformed students through three fundamental principles: values, discipline, and explicit teaching. She argues that today's educators have been misled to believe that "teaching is cheating," leaving disadvantaged students behind whilst mistaking leniency for compassion. The conversation explores uncomfortable truths about how misplaced guilt and lowered expectations harm the very children educators claim to help. So , whether you're a parent, educator or neither, this episode, hosted by Glenn Fahey, will challenge your assumptions about modern education!

  • Ep. 9 | Interview with Katharine Birbalsingh | The Michaela Way

    In this episode, Trey Dimsdale talks with Katharine Birbalsingh about her book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Teachers: The Michaela Way.

  • The world's strictest headmistress: Back to Basics in Education with Katharine Birbalsingh

    Joining us today is Katharine Birbalsingh, the headmistress of Michaela Community School in London and a name synonymous with innovation and excellence in education. Known for its high standards and strict discipline policies, Michaela fosters an environment where traditional values, personal responsibility, and strong discipline lead to academic and personal success. Enjoy this conversation as we discuss Katharine’s journey, the principles that guide her, and her thoughts on the future of education. In this episode: Katharine shares her educational ideology The philosophy of Michaela Community School The importance of hierarchies and responsibilities Challenges in modern education The problem with individual learning plans Combating victimhood in children Connect with Katharine Birbalsingh: Michaela Community School website Connect with Clare: Instagram YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Website More about On the Couch with Clare: Come take a seat On the Couch with Clare, your weekly dose of common sense and raw conversations, where psychology meets everyday life. It’s a show aimed to bring scientific insights, engaging conversations and never shies away from the tough topics across health, relationships, politics, parenting and everyday life. You’ll hear from guests from diverse backgrounds, including media personalities, authors, and health professionals. Expect a blend of professional wisdom, personal anecdotes and political correctness - free zone. Clare’s straightforward and honest approach delivers shame-free practical solutions, new perspectives, and actionable advice. Keeping it real, she addresses everything from fitness struggles, ADHD and digital addictions to mental health challenges and the dating scene. So, whether you’re sipping coffee or enjoying your favourite wine, prepare for your weekly meet-up with a friend who’s here to show you that the only battle you’re truly facing is with yourself—and it’s a battle you can win. Clare Rowe is a dynamic Sydney-based psychologist with a Masters in Educational & Developmental Psychology. Heading up a leading Child & Adolescent Psychology clinic, Clare’s career spans from the therapy room to the courtroom and the media spotlight, offering practical solutions for parents regaining confidence, individuals navigating life post-divorce, and anyone trying to balance the demands of a fast-paced world. Dropping every Thursday, "On the Couch with Clare" will unfold with season 1 launching in July 2024.

  • With Katharine Birbalsingh || SLP519

    Glen Scrivener interviews Britain's strictest headmistress Katharine Birbalsingh about Michaela Community School, original sin and the prayer ban controversy. See 321: http://321course.com/ Subscribe to the Speak Life YouTube channel for videos which see all of life with Jesus at the centre: youtube.com/SpeakLifeMedia Subscribe to the Reformed Mythologist YouTube channel to explore how the stories we love point to the greatest story of all: youtube.com/@ReformedMythologist Discord is an online platform where you can interact with the Speak Life team and other Speak Life supporters. There’s bonus content, creative/theological discussion and lots of fun. Join our Discord here: speaklife.org.uk/give Contact the show: info@speaklife.org.uk Speak Life is a UK based charity that resources the church to reach the world. Learn more about us here: speaklife.org.uk Support the show

  • Conversations: with Katharine Birbalsingh, Headmistress of Michaela Community School

    John is joined in conversation by Katharine Birbalsingh, described by many as ‘Britain’s’ strictest teacher’. Birbalsingh’s passion for high-quality education provides for insightful and challenging perspectives on the state of our current school system and what can be done to improve it.

  • How woke education harms the worst off, with Katharine Birbalsingh

    Katharine Birbalsingh, chair of the Social Mobility Commission and headteacher of the Michaela Community School, returns to The Brendan O’Neill Show to talk about the culture war in the classroom. Donate to spiked: https://www.spiked-online.com/donate/ Sponsored by: Noom https://noom.com/brendan

  • 22: Changing the Lives of Working-Class Kids, with Katharine Birbalsingh
    Where We Go Next

    Children need adults. They need them for guidance, for discipline, for inspiration, and of course, formal education. But often when we talk about education, our attention is almost exclusively focused on those adults. What are they doing right? What are they doing wrong? What are they doing too much or too little of, and how can we stop them? And we too often lose sight of how the children are actually performing. Michaela Community School founder and headmistress Katharine Birbalsingh shares how her staff have gone about providing underserved children the ability to change their stars. Michaela Community School The Power of Culture: The Michaela Way , edited by Katharine Birbalsingh Controversial Michaela Free School Delights in GCSE Success - The Guardian Success Academy Charter Schools The Butterfly of Freedom , by Edward Monkton Michaela student achieves perfect GCSE scores - Twitter Katharine's Twitter: @Miss_Snuffy ---------- Email: wherewegopod@gmail.com Instagram: @wwgnpodcast

  • Michaela: The Power of Culture with Katharine Birbalsingh Transformative Principal 368

    Katharine Birbalsingh is the founder and head of Michaela Community School. She and her staff wrote the book, “Michaela: the Power of Culture” which you can find anywhere books are sold. Michaela is a different kind of school. High standards of discipline - silent corridors Knowledge is our goal in the classroom Why don’t people do things to get the results - People are critical of just focusing on the test. Public appreciation during family lunches. What tests should be like. Cutting the crap - kids usually learn in pretty much the same way. We’ve assumed that the differences of the subject also apply to the differences of the students. Personalized learning is where we disagree. Teachers don’t spend all their time chasing naughty behavior. Teachers aren’t inventing what they teach, they’re sharing and pulling them. How to plan ahead, making sure people have time to do that. No support staff, so there are fewer staff Turn down teachers for doing things for five kids. Personalized learning - The power of saying no. Most staff want to be heard I seek out the ideas of staff all the time. I depend on you to tell me when they Bribing people to tell me what is wrong. You’ve got to inspire people and win hearts and minds. Sorting out behavior - start with the small things. You need consistency throughout your schools. You’re pretending that kids are learning when they’re not in a progressive classroom. Small c conservative vs. progressive approaches. Personal responsibility, duty to community, Dressing well, having a sense of decency about yourself. Having pride in yourself for the right reasons. Far too much negativity. Gratitude. They see themselves as victims. Free schools started only in 2010. I remember what I’m in it for. How to be a transformative principal? You’ve got to have courage. You have to not mind being disliked. You must never think I want people to be happy. Do the right thing. Sponsors TeachFX Innovative school leaders across the country have started tracking online student participation using TeachFX because it’s one of the most powerful ways to improve student outcomes during COVID — especially for English Learners and students of color. Learn more about TeachFX and get a special offer at TeachFX.com John Catt Today’s Transformative Principal sponsor, John Catt Educational, amplifies world-class voices on timeless topics, with a list of authors recognized globally for their fresh perspectives and proven strategies to drive success in modern schools and classrooms. John Catt’s mission is to support high-quality teaching and learning by ensuring every educator has access to professional development materials that are research-based, practical, and focused on the key topics proven essential in today’s and tomorrow’s schools. Learn more about professional development publications that are easy to implement for your entire faculty, and are both quickly digestible and rigorous, by visiting https://us.johncattbookshop.com/. Learn more about some of the newest titles: Michaela: The Power of Culture by Katharine Birbalsingh Teaching WalkThrus: Visual Step-by-Step Guides to Essential Teaching Techniques by Tom Sherrington and Oliver Caviglioli <a href="

  • A Conversation With Katharine Birbalsingh

    As the daughter of immigrants and herself an Oxford student, Katharine Birbalsingh entered a program in which she encouraged inner-city students onto a path toward Oxford themselves. In that role, she found her love for teaching and was eventually asked to speak at the Conservative Party conference (where her speech gained more views than the UK's prime minister at the time). Her ideas on education received backlash, and she was forced to exit her teaching position. Today, she is the founder and headmistress of the Michaela Community School in London, an exceptionally successful free school (similar to a U.S. charter school) which is used as a model for schools around the world. In this episode, she discusses with Jeremy Tate why she stood up to promote academic values that run counter to identity politics in education. Ms. Birbalsingh was recently made Commander of the Order of the British Empire by the Queen for her services to education. Host Jeremy Tate @JeremyTate41 Guest Katharine Birbalsingh @Miss_Snuffy Michaela Community School Battle Hymn of the Tiger Teachers: The Michaela Way The Power of Culture: The Michaela Way E.D. Hirsch: The Schools We Need And Why We Don't Have Them

  • Starkey, Racism and Cancel Culture with Katharine Birbalsingh
    TRIGGERnometry

    Headmistress and founder of Michaela Community School, Katharine Birbalsingh joins us for a third time. Support TRIGGERnometry: Paypal: https://bit.ly/2Tnz8yq https://www.subscribestar.com/trigger ... https://www.patreon.com/triggerpod Find TRIGGERnometry on Social Media: https://twitter.com/triggerpod https://www.facebook.com/triggerpod https://www.instagram.com/triggerpod About TRIGGERnometry: Stand-up comedians Konstantin Kisin (@konstantinkisin) and Francis Foster (@failinghuman) make sense of politics, economics, free speech, AI, drug policy and WW3 with the help of presidential advisors, renowned economists, award-winning journalists, controversial writers, leading scientists and notorious comedians. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Katharine Birbalsingh Interview #2 | Black Lives Matter: Protests, policing and race relations

    This week's guest is the awesome Katharine Birbalsingh, who is the founder of, and headteacher at, Michaela Community School in London. We discussed the killing of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter protests, policing, statues, the nature of racism, and more. This episode is part of our series of shows focussed specifically on the Black Lives Matter movement. Watch the first episode in that series, with Associate Prof. Wilfred Reilly, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bt88... , or listen to it as a podcast (it's the episode before this one). BOOKS Buy 'The Power of Culture' here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tiger-Teacher... Buy 'Staying Power' here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Staying-Powe... YOUTUBE Along with all other episodes, this podcast is also available on our youtube channel, ' E2 Review Podcast '. Click here , or use this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LASvDEwYL0s&t=739s SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow Max (the host) on Twitter: @MaxE2Review Follow Max on Instagram: @maxklinger12 Follow E2 Review on Twitter: @E2Review Follow E2 Review on Instagram: @E2Review Follow E2 Review on Facebook: www.facebook.com/e2review Follow E2 Review on TikTok: @E2Review Follow Katharine on Twitter: @miss_snuffy CONTACT US: E2ReviewShow@gmail.com #GeorgeFloyd #Katharine Birbalsingh #BLM Support the show

  • Katharine Birbalsingh Interview | Why 'liberal' groupthink in education is holding black and poor kids back

    I spoke to Katharine Birbalsingh, founder of and headmistress at Michaela Community School in London, well known commentator, educationalist and general legend for this week's episode. Along with all other episodes, this podcast is also available on our youtube channel, ' E2 Review Podcast '. Click here , or use this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhfKgCqN08Y&feature=youtu.be SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow Max (the host) on twitter: @MaxE2Review Follow Max on instagram: @maxklinger12 Follow E2 Review on twitter: @E2Review Follow E2 Review on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/e2review/ Follow E2 Review on Facebook: www.facebook.com/e2review Follow E2 Review on TikTok: @E2Review Follow Katharine on twitter: @Miss_Snuffy CONTACT US: E2ReviewShow@gmail.com #education #katharinebirbalsingh Support the show

  • TER #096 - The Michaela School (UK) with Katharine Birbalsingh - 23 July 2017

    Main Feature: In a special edition of Off Campus, Dan Haesler speaks with Katharine Birbalsingh, the Principal/Head Teacher of the controversial Michaela Community School in the UK. Regular Features: Education in the News, Cameron reviews a story about mandatory student participation in Victorian school councils. Tom Gordon talks about his work as a science communicator for the University of Sydney, and his podcast, STEMpunk00.00 Opening Credits01:19 Student Voice and School Governance18:22 Tom Gordon - STEMpunk Podcast41:27 Feature Introduction43:39 Dan Haesler - Off Campus45:11 Katharine Birbalsingh - Interview1:22:40 Comments1:31:19 Announcements - TMWooly1:31:50 Quote & Sign Off Support TER Podcast at Patreon.com/TERPodcast TER Podcast on Twitter Follow TER Podcast on Facebook

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GuestVine has tracked 18 guest episodes from Katharine Birbalsingh across 17 shows — about 14 hours of listening, going back to July 2017. Every episode links straight to the original publisher's audio.

Katharine Birbalsingh shows up most often on E2 Review: Politics, Discussion, Debate (2 episodes), with visits to Best of the Spectator and The School Podcast.

Most recent: “Quite right!: Katharine Birbalsingh interview” on Best of the Spectator, 28 Jul 2026.

Podcasts Katharine Birbalsingh has appeared on

The shows with the most detected Katharine Birbalsingh guest appearances.

Appearance timeline

How often Katharine Birbalsingh has guested over time — by quarter, from tracked appearances.

Q3 '17Q3 '26

Katharine Birbalsingh has appeared on 18 recent podcast episodes across 17 different shows. GuestVine keeps this list complete and up to date — new appearances are added automatically and delivered to the podcast player you already use.

Frequently asked

What podcasts has Katharine Birbalsingh been on?
Katharine Birbalsingh has appeared on 18 recent podcast episodes across 17 shows, including E2 Review: Politics, Discussion, Debate, Best of the Spectator, The School Podcast.
What is Katharine Birbalsingh's latest podcast appearance?
The latest detected appearance is “Quite right!: Katharine Birbalsingh interview on Best of the Spectator, published 28 Jul 2026.
How many hours of Katharine Birbalsingh podcast interviews are there?
GuestVine has tracked about 14 hours of Katharine Birbalsingh guest appearances across 18 episodes, going back to 23 Jul 2017.
How does GuestVine keep this list updated?
GuestVine tracks delivered guest appearances, excludes own-show episodes where possible, and links back to the original publisher audio. New appearances are added automatically as they are detected.
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