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Katharine Birbalsingh vs. transgender people

Katharine Birbalsingh aka “Miss Snuffy” is a British educator and anti-transgender activist. Birbalsingh frequently appears in the media with other anti-trans figures.

Background

Katharine Moana Birbalsingh was born on September 16, 1973 in Auckland, New Zealand. Birbalsingh grew up in Toronto, Canada until the family moved to the UK when Birbalsingh was15. Birbalsingh earned a bachelor’s degree at New College, Oxford.

In 2014, Birbalsingh established Michaela Community School, a free school in Wembley Park, London. Birbalsingh was dubbed “UK’s strictest headteacher” and became popular among anti-progressive pundits for criticizing the UK school system. in 2019 Birbalsingh was awarded the Contrarian Prize. In 2020 Birbalsingh was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). In 2021 Birbalsingh was elected an honorary fellow of New College, Oxford. In 2021 Birbalsingh was appointed Chair of the Social Mobility Commission. Birbalsingh resigned in 2023.

Anti-trans activism

Birbalsingh signed a 2024 UK Public Inquiry request demanding a public inquiry into transgender healthcare for young people.

In a 2025 interview with The Standard, Birbalsingh falsely claimed that trans children were more likely to be “white and privileged.”

References

Webberly, Helen (May 23, 2025). “White and Privileged”? Human diversity just doesn’t work like that!. GenderGP https://www.gendergp.com/blog/transgender-youth-diversity/

Billson, Chantelle (May 22, 2025). ‘UK’s strictest headteacher’ wrongly claims trans kids more likely to be ‘white and privileged.’ PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/05/22/uks-strictest-headteacher-wrongly-claims-trans-kids-more-likely-to-be-white-and-privileged/

Staff report (May 21, 2025). Britain’s strictest headteacher claims transgender children more likely to be ‘white’ and ‘privileged.’ The Standard https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/schools-transgender-pupils-britains-strictest-headteacher-katharine-birbalsingh-b1229057.html

Jones, Dylan (May 21, 2025). Katharine Birbalsingh: ‘Our education secretary? A patronising, cultural marxist.’ The Standard https://www.standard.co.uk/news/education/katharine-birbalsingh-strictest-headteacher-bridget-phillipson-education-b1229084.html

Anti-trans coverage

Goodwyn, Harry (May 22, 2025). Trans children more likely to be white and privileged, says head. The Times https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/trans-children-white-privilege-katherine-birbalsingh-73d578v7q

McArdle, Tom (May 22, 2025). Trans children more likely to be ‘white and privileged’, says Katharine Birbalsingh. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/22/trans-kids-more-likely-white-and-privileged-birbalsingh/

Barnes, Hannah (February 12, 2025). Katharine Birbalsingh: “They’re going to destroy our schools.” New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/education/2025/02/katharine-birbalsingh-interview-destroy-our-schools-bridget-phillipson-academies

Maxted, Anna (November 27, 2024). The parenting style that ensures happier kids: One of Britain’s strictest teachers has condemned ‘gentle’ parenting. So which way is best to bring up children? Modern parenting can be a minefield – and here’s our guide to decoding the different methods. Good Housekeeping https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/lifestyle/a62987227/what-type-of-parent-are-you/

Murray, Douglas (April 20, 2024). The triumph of Katharine Birbalsingh. The Spectator https://spectator.com/article/the-triumph-of-katharine-birbalsingh/

Holl-Allen, Genevieve (September 8, 2023). Schools ‘left on their own’ without trans guidance, warns former social mobility tsar. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/09/08/schools-need-trans-guidance-katharine-birbalsingh/

Adams, Richard (June 23, 2023). ‘Child identifying as cat’ controversy: from TikTok video to media frenzy. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/jun/23/child-identifying-as-cat-controversy-from-a-tiktok-video-to-media-frenzy

Selected writing by Birbalsingh

Birbalsingh, Katharine (September 8, 2023). Schools have been abandoned to trans lawsuits. Without government guidance, teachers and students are being dragged into conflict. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/09/08/schools-have-been-abandoned-to-trans-lawsuits/

Books

  • [editor] Michaela: The Power of Culture (2020
  • [editor] Battle Hymn of the Tiger Teachers: The Michaela Way (2016)
  • To Miss with Love (2011)
  • Singleholic (2009)

Media

The Telegraph with Kamal, Camilla, and Katharine Birbalsingh (Feb 6, 2025). Britain’s Strictest Headteacher on why ‘Marxist’ Bridget Phillipson is wrong. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfUpFzPMCIc

Heretics with Andrew Gold and Katharine Birbalsingh (July 4, 2024). The Teacher Uniting Students – Katharine Birbalsingh (4K) | h. 70. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-egugS2spwM

Jordan B Peterson with Katharine Birbalsingh (June 24, 2024). A Message From the Strictest Headmistress in the UK | Katharine Birbalsingh | EP 458. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs0s9kTFE5Y

Peter Boghossian with Katharine Birbalsingh (April 16, 2024). An Inside Look At The UK’s Strictest School w/Katharine Birbalsingh. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3taXF-cjLBc

TRIGGERnometry with Konstantin Kisin, Francis Foster, and Katharine Birbalsingh (January 31, 2024). World’s Strictest Teacher Sued for Banning Prayer at School – Katharine Birbalsingh. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53kcrLyhs-8

Piers Morgan Uncensored with Piers Morgan with Katharine Birbalsingh (July 5, 2023). School children identifying as animals a ‘societal problem’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUEexyJeRdY

TRIGGERnometry with Konstantin Kisin, Francis Foster, and Katharine Birbalsingh (Jul 8, 2020). Starkey, Racism and Cancel Culture with Katharine Birbalsingh. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMFm6RGjhEk

TalkTV with Julia Hartley-Brewer and Katharine Birbalsingh (September 29, 2019). Julia Hartley-Brewer meets Katharine Birbalsingh. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls0ZHOBhpzU

Spiked / The Brendan O’Neill Show with Brendan O’Neill and Katharine Birbalsingh (September 1, 2019). Katharine Birbalsingh: education and the new racism — The Brendan O’Neill Show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNWucCjjoVo

The Rubin Report with Dave Rubin and Katharine Birbalsingh (August 31, 2018). Problems & Solutions with Education | Katharine Birbalsingh | ACADEMIA | Rubin Report. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXc46-NlOyw

Resources

Strictest Headmistress (strictestheadmistress.com)

WordPress (wordpress.com)

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

UK Government (https://www.gov.uk/)

X/Twitter (x.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

The Telegraph (telegraph.co.uk)

The Guardian (theguardian.com)