Islamia Primary School
{{Short description|Islamic primary school in London, England, United Kingdom}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Islamia Primary School
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|51.5395|-0.2082|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dec|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = United_Kingdom London_Brent#London#England#United Kingdom
| motto =
| established = October 1983
| closed =
| type = Voluntary aided school
| religious_affiliation = Islam
| president =
| head_label = Head teacher
| head = Shiraz Khan
| r_head_label =
| r_head =
| 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
| staff =
| capacity =
| enrolment =
| gender = Coeducational
| lower_age = 4
| upper_age = 11
| houses =
| colours =
| publication =
| free_label_1 =
| free_1 =
| free_label_2 =
| free_2 =
| free_label_3 =
| free_3 =
| website = https://islamia.brent.sch.uk
}}
Islamia Primary School is a voluntary aided primary, Islamic faith school in Queen's Park, London, England.{{cite news |url=http://www.brent.gov.uk/services-for-residents/family-and-schools/schools/school-finder/islamia-primary-school/ |title=Islamia Primary School |publisher=Brent London Borough Council |year=2013 |access-date=19 May 2014}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://islamiaprimary.org.uk/content/view/84|title=Islamia Primary School :: History|publisher=Islamia Primary School|access-date=18 May 2014|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140518040958/http://islamiaprimary.org.uk/content/view/84|archive-date=18 May 2014}} In 1998, the school was the first Muslim school in Britain to be granted public funding by the Government.{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/11729800/ns/world_news-islam_in_europe/t/creating-british-muslim-culture-kids/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519041621/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/11729800/ns/world_news-islam_in_europe/t/creating-british-muslim-culture-kids/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 May 2014 |title='Creating a British Muslim culture' for kids. |date=3 October 2006 |publisher=NBC News |first=Jennifer |last=Carlile |access-date=19 May 2014}} This funding was secured after a campaign of thirteen years and several rejections of their applications for voluntary state aid.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/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-1453326.html|title=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|last=Hinds|first=Diana|date=4 April 1993|work=The Independent|access-date=18 May 2014}}
Prince Charles visited to officially inaugurate the school's voluntary aided status on 10 May 2000.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wSvIAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA73 |title=When Islam and Democracy Meet: Muslims in Europe and in the United States |last=Cesari |first=Jocelyne |date=10 December 2004 |page=73 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=9781403978561 |access-date=22 May 2014}} He praised their approach of providing both secular and religious education.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/743894.stm|title=Prince goes pop to praise school|date=10 May 2000|publisher=BBC|access-date=18 May 2014}}
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.{{cite news |url=http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/education/brent_school_s_8m_expansion_1_657148 |title=Brent school's £8m expansion |date=27 September 2010 |work=Eastern Daily Press |first=Kate |last=Ferguson |access-date=21 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521220933/http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/education/brent_school_s_8m_expansion_1_657148 |archive-date=21 May 2014 |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.bdonline.co.uk/residents-fight-marks-barfields-islamia-primary-school/5011575.article |title=Residents fight Marks Barfield's Islamia Primary school |date=14 January 2011 |work=BDOnline |first=David |last=Rogers |access-date=21 May 2014}} Brent Council announced, in November 2013, that the development had been included in Phase 3 of their Permanent Primary School Expansion project.{{cite news |url=http://democracy.brent.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?AIId=10979 |title=School Expansion Programme – Phase 2 Permanent Primary School Expansion Works Contract, Preston Manor and Portfolio Update |date=13 November 2013 |work=Brent London Borough Council |first=Cheryl |last=Painting |access-date=21 May 2014}}
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. It has 210 official places{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} and 3,500 pupils on the waiting list. Islamia follows the national curriculum supplemented with classes on religion and studies of the Arabic language.{{cite web| url=http://www.salatomatic.com/d/London+3774+Islamia-Primary-School|title=Islamia Primary School in London, Greater London|publisher=salatomatic.com|access-date=18 May 2014}}
The Ofsted inspection on 2013 rated the school as "Good", point 2 on a four-point scale.{{cite news |url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/filedownloading/?id=2197237&type=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519022438/http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/filedownloading/?id=2197237&type=1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 May 2014 |title=Islamia Primary School |publisher=Ofsted |date=11 March 2013 |access-date=19 May 2014 }} Ofsted reported positively on the school community, and the way that the children were engaged in their learning.{{cite news |url=http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/primary_school_in_queen_s_park_celebrating_after_improved_ofsted_rating_1_1987254 |title=Primary school in Queen's Park celebrating after improved Ofsted rating |work=Kilburn Times |last=Walters |first=Max |date=21 March 2013 |access-date=19 May 2014 |archive-date=19 May 2014 |archive-url=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 |url-status=dead }} In 2022 the Ofsdted inspection marked the school as "Inadequate."{{Cite web |date=2023-03-16 |title=Best and worst schools in Brent according to Ofsted |url=https://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/23387141.ofsted-brents-best-worst-rated-secondary-schools/ |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Brent & Kilburn Times |language=en}}
In 2013, the school won the Global Peace and Unity Education Award for Excellence, for UK primary schools.{{cite news |url=http://islamiaprimary.org.uk/uploads/news/PRESS_RELEASE_2nd_Dec_2013.pdf |title=Islamia Primary School Wins Education Award for Excellence |publisher=Islamia Primary School |date=2 December 2013 |access-date=19 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519222205/http://islamiaprimary.org.uk/uploads/news/PRESS_RELEASE_2nd_Dec_2013.pdf |archive-date=19 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}
Linked schools
The Islamia Branch consists of three schools; the primary school, Islamia Girls High School, and the boys' school, Brondesbury College.{{cn|date=December 2024}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.islamiaprimary.org.uk/}}
{{Schools and colleges in Brent}}
{{Islamic schools in the United Kingdom}}
{{authority control}}
Category:1983 establishments in England
Category:Educational institutions established in 1983
Category:Primary schools in the London Borough of Brent