Britain's strictest headteacher has claimed transgender children are more likely to be from “white, privileged” backgrounds, adding that “victimhood is admired” in society today.
Katharine Birbalsingh, head of Michaela Community School, a free school in Wembley, added that people are searching for “a victimhood narrative to embrace”.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Standard, the high-profile school leader was asked about her strategies for teaching transgender children.
She responded: “We haven’t had any trans children in the school, but I think it’s unlikely as we have a very, heavy, ethnic minority intake from the inner city, and that plays a huge part. Half of them are Muslim.
“I think they’d be less inclined … I think if one actually did a survey on this sort of thing nationally, I think you would find that white privileged kids would be more likely to be doing that.
“No question. Our society is such that victimhood is admired. And if you feel that you’re white and privileged, then you don’t have much of a victimhood narrative to embrace.
“So then you need to find something to embrace to be respected by your peers."
New figures revealed last week that the number of children awaiting gender care in England and Wales has risen by 12% in a year, with 157 of those on the waiting list aged under 10.
Average waiting times have also grown to more than two years for a child to get a first appointment at a specialist NHS clinic.
There were 6,225 children on the national waiting list at the end of March – up from 5,560 at the same point a year earlier, data obtained by the PA news agency showed.
Ms Birbalsingh raised eyebrows last year when she posted on X about children “identifying as pasta”.
The headteacher added in the post that “loads of teachers” had furries, a term used to describe people who dress up as animals, in their classrooms. “Snow leopards and pasta too,” she added.
The head also made headlines last week while protesting against the incoming Children’s Wellbeing and Schools bill.
She called the legislation “completely insane” and warned that it threatened to “undo” improvements made in the education system during the past 15 years.
