Islamia Primary School
| Islamia Primary School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
129 Salusbury Road , London , NW6 6PE England | |
| Information | |
| Type | Voluntary aided, primary |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Islam |
| Established | October 1983 |
| Founder | Yusuf Islam |
| Local authority | Brent |
| Department for Education URN | 101574 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Chairman | Ahsan K Mirza |
| Head teacher | Zahida Shaheem |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Age | 4 to 11 |
| Website | http://www.islamiaprimary.org.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 1977.[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] However, it is overcapacity with just 210 official places[10] 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.[11]
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.[12] Ofsted reported positively on the school community, and the way that the children were engaged in their learning.[13]
In 2013, the school won the Global Peace and Unity Education Award for Excellence, for UK primary schools.[14]
Linked schools
The Islamia Branch consists of three schools; the primary school, Islamia Girls High School, and the boys' school, Brondesbury College.
References
- ^ "Islamia Primary School". Brent London Borough Council. 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
- ^ "Islamia Primary School :: History". Islamia Primary School. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
- ^ a b c Carlile, Jennifer (3 October 2006). "'Creating a British Muslim culture' for kids". NBC News. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
- ^ Hinds, Diana (4 April 1993). "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". The Independent. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
- ^ Cesari, Jocelyne (10 December 2004). When Islam and Democracy Meet: Muslims in Europe and in the United States. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 73. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
- ^ "Prince goes pop to praise school". BBC Online. 10 May 2000. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
- ^ Ferguson, Kate (27 September 2010). "Brent school's £8m expansion". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ^ Rogers, David (14 January 2011). "Residents fight Marks Barfield's Islamia Primary school". BDOnline. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ^ Painting, Cheryl (13 November 2013). "School Expansion Programme – Phase 2 Permanent Primary School Expansion Works Contract, Preston Manor and Portfolio Update". Brent London Borough Council. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ^ "Twins face being split up for the first time after primary school 'refuses to buy a chair for teaching assistant'". Daily Mail. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
- ^ "Islamia Primary School in London, Greater London". salatomatic.com. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
- ^ "Islamia Primary School". Ofsted. 11 March 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
- ^ Walters, Max (21 March 2013). "Primary school in Queen's Park celebrating after improved Ofsted rating". Kilburn Times. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
- ^ "Islamia Primary School Wins Education Award for Excellence" (PDF). Islamia Primary School. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2014.