Katharine Birbalsingh - the speech which so angered Dr Irene Bishop

Here it is - the speech which so incensed the Executive Headteacher of St Michael and All Angels Academy in Camberwell that this talented deputy headteacher was 'sent home' while her future in the academy is 'under consideration'. Hitherto, it has been available only on BBC iPlayer, but now, thanks to YouTube, it has been democratised for her inspirational message to go out to the four corners of the earth.

His Grace is deeply indebted to Mr Dizzy for discovering that the Executive Headteacher who so disapproves of Ms Birbalsingh's conduct is one Dr Irene Bishop.

This is that same Dr Irene Bishop who, as headteacher at St Saviour's and St Olave's in 2001, permitted Tony Blair to announce the general election of that year from her school hall.

Though she has a slightly different take on events.

Dr Bishop's action against Ms Birbalsingh appears to be an unconscious psychological defense mechanism: Dr Bishop clearly felt 'used' by Tony Blair, who further abused the children in her charge by exploiting them for his blatant partisan posturing. This offended her 'neutrality', and the media furore became, for her, a shameful 'pantomime': "Party politics and schools do not mix well", she opined.

And yet now she has produced, directed and cast this latest pantomime all by herself.

It seems that because she felt so 'used' in 2001, she believes that all teachers might be as naïve as she in allowing unprincipled politicians to take advantage of their benevolence and violate their sacred neutrality. Because she herself once permitted the children in her charge to be treated as political props, she is hyper-cautious to the point of irrational paranoia to ensure that the latest generation of children in her charge are never again so abused.

But Ms Birbalsingh, our beloved Miss Snuffy, is such an experienced teacher and school leader that it beggars belief that she had not secured the necessary permissions both to attend this conference and to mention the children she did.

Dr Irene Bishop has said: "Schools should be apolitical."

Quite.

She has also advised other head teachers 'to be very careful not to be seen to support one side or the other'.

Right.

So please get a sense of proportion and permit Ms Birbalsingh to return to work on Monday, and stop pandering to the political prejudices and biases of your (most vocal?) staff.

His Grace would be most obliged.