To an outsider, it would have looked like just another month in winter at London’s Islamia Primary School: every morning, children lining up in the concrete playground in front of the school, reciting their morning supplications with the school’s Imam and teachers all present. But January 2007 was the month when the school that was the brainchild of Yusuf Islam and had started its life in a house in London’s Brondesbury Park, momentously opened its doors to 128 new pupils. It was the first step in paving the way towards its full expansion, from a one-form entry school, with one class of thirty children in every year group; to a fully fledged two-form entry school with two classes of 30 in every year.

Zahida Shaheem, the Acting Head of Islamia Primary School, has seen the school grow from its infancy.: "We have made history." She said: "It was in Muharram, 23 years ago that Islamia School originally opened. It was the first Muslim School in London and now 23 years down the line, again in Muharram, it has grown into a two-form entry school."

But this was more than just about the expansion of Islamia School. All of the new children were from the recently closed Avenue Primary School, an independent Muslim School just a few blocks away from Islamia, which announced its imminent closure last year. Since late December 2006, the Avenue School lays desolate, its once bustling classrooms and corridors, vacant of the children that had occupied them for the last 10 years.

Problems with the Avenue School started at the end of 2004 when it was granted VA (Voluntary Aided) status by the Council, which it subsequently rejected due to financial concerns. The Council insisted that the school was now a VA school and the school’s Trust maintained that they wanted its independence. After a court battle the VA status was confirmed by the high court in April 2005 and the school was given the right to stay on its current site on a temporary basis. The landlords of the Avenue school won the right to demand that the school building be vacated by January 2007, which left its 180 pupils and their parents, some of whom used to travel across London to give their children the Islamic environment they felt was so essential for them, desperately looking for alternative schooling for their children - a task that was never going to be easy.

"It was so sad to see the school close down," one Avenue parent told me. "With all the uncertainty surrounding it, some parents put their children into other private and state schools. Some parents even left the country when they heard that the school was closing."

When the closure of the Avenue school became an unavoidable reality, the Avenue’s governing body and parents as well as the council, began a search for an alternative site for the school to set up on, but no appropriate building was found. Islamia School’s Trust too, was approached with the idea of a merger, which all parties agreed was the best solution they had.

It was in effect to be, an amalgamation of the two schools.

Yusuf Islam who is the school’s Trustee, has fully supported the development calling it a ‘marriage’ between the two schools and welcoming it wholeheartedly.

Sheikh Ahmed Babikir, the Imam and head of the Islamic department of Islamia School said in a public meeting that was held for parents and staff of both schools at the end of last year: "Just as the Ansar in Madinah welcomed the Muhajiroon from Makkah and gave them everything, we welcome you and are willing to give you everything we have. Every resource that we have at our disposal will be available to your children insha Allah. We have given up our staff room, to convert it into a classroom." He exhorted parents and staff to be patient and reminded them that problems could be expected in the early days of the amalgamation and that it would take time to adjust to the new arrangements. He reminded all concerned that the challenges had to be met with determination and perseverance.

"The whole thing has been sorted out at break-neck speed." Teacher Zahida says. "There were so many issues to sort out. We could accommodate 3 classes within the school building, but had to find alternative accommodation for the other four classes, so at present, the older, Key Stage 2 pupils are being accommodated at Winkworth Hall, across the road from here."

On the first day of the new merger, parents from the Avenue School looked on as their children filed into their new school, united with some of their classmates and teachers once again. Some looking anxious but most were visibly pleased and were shaking hands and embracing other parents.

"When I heard that the Avenue was going to close down, I put my child into a state school" the parent of a child in Year 5 told me, "but he found it really hard to settle in because he’d been so used to that Islamic environment and his friends. In the state school, he was bullied and it was a real shock for him. So I’m glad that my son can come to Islamia and be in the sort of place he’s used to again, with his friends from his class at the Avenue."

Islamia Primary School hopes to be a fully functioning two-form entry school by September 2007, taking in 60 new pupils every September. The full expansion of the school building will take longer though. "We are now waiting for the 3.4 million pounds building grant that had been allocated for the Avenue school, to be transferred to Islamia – the decision is just pending. Insha Allah by 2010, we hope to have expanded the school, with more classrooms, a brand new building with a gym and swimming pool facilities." Teacher Zahida told me confidently. "I want this school to be the best in every way…for all our children and for the whole community."

"We’re very grateful to Islamia’s governors, teachers and parents for helping us in our predicament. A lot of work has gone into this merger" Inayat Sardar, who is a former Parent Governor from the Avenue School, said to me, "I hope that we’ll have a positive influence and that we’ll be able to contribute to the school as best as we can now. It is a new school for us: a new beginning. Together we’re going to make it into a fabulous school insha Allah. I saw a lot of smiles on people’s faces on the first day. Obviously there is a degree of sadness that the Avenue had to close, but I’m looking to the future now…" he says unequivocally.

Article taken from the Muslim Weekly.

The Muslim Council of Britain, through it’s education committee headed by Tahir Alam, finally launched its long awaited and highly praised, information and guidance document for schools entitled 'Towards Greater Understanding- Meeting the Needs of Muslim Pupils in State Schools' on Wednesday 21 February 2007 at the Islamic Cultural Centre, London.

Based on best practice, the document gives information and guidance on how schools can respond positively to some commonly raised issues concerning Muslim pupils including halal food, dress code, Ramadan, provision for prayers, collective worship etc.

Professor Tim Brighouse (Chief Advisor for London Schools) was the chief guest and also on the platform were Dr. Ahmad Al-Dubayan , Director General of the Islamic centre and Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, MCB Secretary-General.

The full document can be downloaded from the MCB website.
Click here to download (~ 9MB).

London, Kingsbury girl Amina Al-Yassin has been named the County's Top Student by the examination board, Edexcel. Amina, 16, was presented with the Boards Outstanding Student of The Year Award on July 9.

Television presenter, Kate Humble, hosted the ceremony, with the guest of honour secretary state for Education, Charles Clarke. She also won the Young Learner's Category, netting prizes for herself and her school worth a total amount of £10, 000, of which she will receive £1,000 to spend on educational items of her choice.

Her accomplishments are all the more remarkable because when she arrived in Britain, in 1990, from Lebanon, she was unable to speak English. She has received 10* and 1 A grade in her GCSE in her exams.

Amina, who attended the Al-Zahra Girls School in Brondsbury, London NW6 (an independent non-selective Muslim school whose fees is very modest at £3, 150 p.a.) impressed a panel of judges including TV chef Antony Worral-Thompson and former MP and journalist Martin Bell, who said, 'Amina's exceptional educational achievements, commitment to her school and local community and her willingness to help others led us to choose her.'

Amina praised Al-Zahra Girl's School and Muslim schools in general, 'I would advise every parent who could send their children to an Islamic school to do so. They offer a much more supportive environment than other schools and the teachers really do care about your well-being and development. They offer the opportunity for the child to develop morally, academically and spiritually supportive and unique environment.' She added, 'Even though I've left Al-Zahra I still feel very much part of it as it is truly and integral part of my life…I am grateful to my teachers who truly were like second mothers to me'… She also believes that enrolling into a Muslim school does not automatically mean compromising children's integration into society, 'It is important school's do not ghetto their pupils away-There must not be a blame between integrating into society and not compromising ones value at the same time.'

This and the good academic results from other Muslim schools prove that Muslim pupils, given adequate resources and environment, can excel beyond expectation. The result is that 6th form colleges are queuing up to enrol these students into their colleges. This is why there is much demand for places in these schools and it is in the best interest that these schools should be supported by everyone- including funding by the government. (Original text: Muslim News - November 2003)

Congratulations to Balham Prep. School London on achieving its application for Voluntary Aided Status. Out of thousands of Voluntary Aided Schools, it is still only the 5th Voluntary Aided Muslim School in the UK. (Dec 2002)

I would like to draw the attention of working-class parents interested in sending their children to fee-paying Muslim schools.

I have enrolled my children in a well-known Muslim school in North West London, where the fee was £800 ten years ago, but has drastically increased from £3,200 to £4,200 within two years, making it virtually the most expensive Muslim school.

I have found that when institutions and organisations like these are finally established, they ignore their humble beginnings and the community they serve. They stop consulting the parents and any involvement by the parents is scowled at.

I would advise these parents to think twice before sending their children to fee-paying Muslim schools, as they may end up not being able to pay the fees and the school expelling the child. They will end up broken-hearted and disappointed. Instead, they should try to make the most out of the state schools that are free, have far better facilities and resources, have open door practices and consult the parents on every important matter regarding their children and reply and respond to any enquiry and complaint. In some state school that have a large Muslim population, they offer praying facilities, halal food, juma prayers and many teachers are Muslim themselves.

Our deen teaches us to act fairly and openly when dealing with everyday matters and decisions. Surly, the schools themselves should apply these standards to their affairs. Otherwise, our children will reflect this attitude. Majority of parents do not have endless flows of money to fund the schools' lavish spending plans, but instead, the school should keep fees in line with inflation, or actively seek grant maintained status. (June 2002)