Katharine Birbalsingh – The Woke Curriculum is Turning Our Kids Against Their Own Country

Thinking Class | 16 July 2026 | 1h 6m | Listen Later | Podcasts | Spotify

Interview with Katharine Birbalsingh about her ARC speech The Woke Curriculum is Turning Our Kids Against Their Own Country. Explores why her successful Michaela Community School model is not widely replicated, despite its proven outcomes for disadvantaged children. Argues that progressive ideologies within the education establishment, including prestigious private schools, foster individualism and neglect traditional values such as discipline, duty, and respect. Contends that children are born ‘naughty’ and require explicit moral formation, a concept rejected in modern society, contributing to a generation lacking agency and societal bonds. Highlights the profound influence of schools and online culture on children, often overshadowing familial impact, and criticises the broader societal discomfort with ‘judgment’ that impedes educational and cultural reform.