The ruling on a prayer ban at Michaela Community School has created a “classic English policy muddle” that has divided education experts over its implications, with some school leaders predicting that more schools could ban organised prayers as a result. By Sally Weale and Richard Adams, The Guardian. 

The Times reports that the school's headteacher, Katharine Birbalsingh, has said the ban on lunchtime prayer rituals was supported by senior Muslims. By Nicola Woolcock and Tom Ball. 

Writing in Schools Week, Alistair Wood outlines the key challenges and arguments in the case, what the judge ruled and the main implications for schools. Alistair Wood is chief executive of Edapt, a subscription based education-legal support service for teachers and school staff. 

In light of the ruling, the Guardian community team is asking Muslims in the UK about their experiences of prayer at school. If you would like to get in touch with the paper to share your experiences or those of your children, please respond directly here. 

Ofsted has warned that schools are covering too many religions in religious education (RE) lessons. The inspectorate's report, which looked at how the subject is being taught in England's schools, said most schools lacked “depth” and pupils remembered “little” when many faiths were studied in the curriculum. The Telegraph.

Paedophiles convicted of serious sexual offences are to be stripped of their parental rights under a proposed law change. An amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, tabled by Labour MP Harriet Harman and backed by justice secretary Alex Chalk, will create a presumption that paedophiles guilty of the most serious offences should be barred from automatic parental rights. By Charles Hymas, The Telegraph. 

Paediatricians from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) have said laws must be changed to ensure smacking a child is not seen as acceptable in any circumstances. In a recent report, the RCPCH said this is a time for all political parties to “make meaningful commitments on this important children’s rights issue”. The Telegraph.

The Queen has suggested that young domestic abuse campaigners hold pop-up shops in schools across the country. Camilla told a group of young women working with the SafeLives charity, of which she is patron, that it would be "brilliant" if they could encourage children to talk about their experiences and promote healthy relationships. By Victoria Ward, The Telegraph. 

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