Islamia Primary School Explained

Islamia Primary School
Coordinates:51.5395°N -0.2082°W
Pushpin Map:United_Kingdom London_Brent#London#England#United Kingdom
Established:October 1983
Type:Voluntary aided school
Religious Affiliation:Islam
Head Label:Head teacher
Head:Shiraz Khan
Chair Label:Chairman
Chair:Sofia Moussaui
Founder:Yusuf Islam
Address:129 Salusbury Road
City:Queen's Park
County:London
Country:England
Postcode:NW6 6PE
Local Authority:Brent
Dfeno:304/5949
Urn:101574
Ofsted:yes
Gender:Coeducational
Lower Age:4
Upper Age:11
Website:https://islamia.brent.sch.uk

Islamia Primary School is a voluntary aided primary, Islamic faith school in Queen's Park, London, England.[1] It is located in the London Borough of Brent.

History

Islamia Primary School was founded in October 1983 by Yusuf Islam, the singer/songwriter who was known as Cat Stevens until his conversion to Islam in 1978.[2] In 1998, the school was the first Muslim school in Britain to be granted public funding by the Government.[3] This funding was secured after a campaign of thirteen years and several rejections of their applications for voluntary state aid.[4]

Prince Charles visited to officially inaugurate the school's voluntary aided status on 10 May 2000.[5] He praised their approach of providing both secular and religious education.[6]

The school applied, in September 2010, for permission to construct an £8 million extension including a new two-storey building. It would be funded jointly by Brent Council, the school and the government.[7] The scheme, designed by Marks Barfield, was granted planning permission in December 2010 but has proved controversial with residents groups threatening to take legal action to stop it.[8] Brent Council announced, in November 2013, that the development had been included in Phase 3 of their Permanent Primary School Expansion project.[9]

Academic education

The school is two form entry with approximately 420 pupils aged between the ages of 4 and 11. The school was intended to have 10% non-Muslim pupils.[3] It has just 210 official places and 3,500 pupils on the waiting list.[3] Islamia follows the national curriculum supplemented with classes on religion and studies of the Arabic language.[10]

The Ofsted inspection on 28 February/1 March 2013 rated the school as "Good", point 2 on a four-point scale. This was up from point 3 at the last inspection. The report states that "the quality of teaching has improved since the previous inspection and is now good with some examples of outstanding teaching" but highlights attainment in mathematics as requiring improvement.[11] Ofsted reported positively on the school community, and the way that the children were engaged in their learning.[12]

In 2013, the school won the Global Peace and Unity Education Award for Excellence, for UK primary schools.[13]

Linked schools

The Islamia Branch consists of three schools; the primary school, Islamia Girls High School, and the boys' school, Brondesbury College.

Notes and References

  1. News: Islamia Primary School . . 2013 . 19 May 2014.
  2. Web site: Islamia Primary School :: History. Islamia Primary School. 18 May 2014. dead. https://archive.today/20140518040958/http://islamiaprimary.org.uk/content/view/84. 18 May 2014.
  3. News: 'Creating a British Muslim culture' for kids. . https://web.archive.org/web/20140519041621/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/11729800/ns/world_news-islam_in_europe/t/creating-british-muslim-culture-kids/ . dead . 19 May 2014 . 3 October 2006 . . Jennifer . Carlile . 19 May 2014.
  4. Web site: Where Koran and calculators sit side by side: If Islamia School is not given state aid, it may have to close. John Patten must decide, reports Diana Hinds. Hinds. Diana. 4 April 1993. The Independent. 18 May 2014.
  5. Book: Cesari, Jocelyne . When Islam and Democracy Meet: Muslims in Europe and in the United States . 10 December 2004 . 73 . . 9781403978561 . 22 May 2014.
  6. News: Prince goes pop to praise school. 10 May 2000. BBC. 18 May 2014.
  7. News: Brent school's £8m expansion . 27 September 2010 . . Kate . Ferguson . 21 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140521220933/http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/education/brent_school_s_8m_expansion_1_657148 . 21 May 2014 . dead .
  8. News: Residents fight Marks Barfield's Islamia Primary school . 14 January 2011 . . David . Rogers . 21 May 2014.
  9. News: School Expansion Programme – Phase 2 Permanent Primary School Expansion Works Contract, Preston Manor and Portfolio Update . 13 November 2013 . . Cheryl . Painting . 21 May 2014.
  10. Web site: Islamia Primary School in London, Greater London. salatomatic.com. 18 May 2014.
  11. News: Islamia Primary School . https://web.archive.org/web/20140519022438/http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/filedownloading/?id=2197237&type=1 . dead . 19 May 2014 . Ofsted . 11 March 2013 . 19 May 2014 .
  12. News: Primary school in Queen's Park celebrating after improved Ofsted rating . . Walters . Max . 21 March 2013 . 19 May 2014 . 19 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140519025021/http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/primary_school_in_queen_s_park_celebrating_after_improved_ofsted_rating_1_1987254 . dead .
  13. News: Islamia Primary School Wins Education Award for Excellence . Islamia Primary School . 2 December 2013 . 19 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140519222205/http://islamiaprimary.org.uk/uploads/news/PRESS_RELEASE_2nd_Dec_2013.pdf . 19 May 2014 . dead .