Iqra Independent was established at Brixton Mosque in September 1994 with the aim of helping young Muslims learn about the importance of their faith while being part of British society. The Iqra School provides education for mainly migrant youngsters living in Lambeth.

The school is now looking to get state funding to continue the work. It has been functioning for 12 years, meeting the growing demands for secular education in an Islamic setting in this part of South West London.

There are currently around 10,000 Muslims families living in Lambeth and the school came about because of the lack of such a facility in the local area. Pupils aged 3-11 attending the school are offered both traditional and Islamic education meeting the needs of the Muslim community. The school’s vision is "training for this life and the Hereafter"

It's the ability to offer not just the standard British National curriculum but also the grounding in Islam that sets this school apart from others. The Iqra Independent School is currently not part of the UK state sector and parents who send their children here have to pay fees between £1500 and £2500 a year.

This is putting a huge strain on the parents – many of whom are on low incomes or benefits . The school has difficulty collecting the fees every month and the lack of financial resources available to the school has meant the average salary for the teachers at the school being £8000 per year. The teachers are working at reduced salaries because of their commitment to put something back into the community. However the acting head teacher has indicated the distinct probability that the school will have to close if external aid is not received from September 2008.

A key factor in the school's recent success has been the development of the outside area. Through their own efforts staff, parents and pupils have turned an overgrown garden into a playground where a range of activities can now take place. Most of the children come from the local area, but some travel a considerable distance to attend school.

For the children, the school provides them with a happy and secure environment where they can immerse themselves in both Islam and their normal studies. The school raised funds to help victims for Cyclone Nargis in Burma by selling cakes and ice cream after lessons. It's their way of showing support for what s happening in the wider world.

The school wants to become voluntary aided and be given funds from the UK government to provide education and be at the heart of the local Muslim community. Iqra School has a bright future and should become a beacon for what's possible in multicultural Britain to provide children with a Muslim and secular education in an Islamic environment.

At present, the school is near to its capacity of 110 pupils. Approximately 60% of pupils are from Somalia, 10% of Caribbean heritage and the remainder of Bangladeshi, Algerian and Moroccan heritage. Parents feel it offers their children the right blend of religious and formal education.

The school are encouraged by the recent government report 'Faith in the System' which outlines the government s commitment to supporting parents, where possible, to obtain a place for their child at a school of their choice. Faith schools, the report states, are one way to create a more diverse system in which schools have a distinct specialism, mission or ethos. The report notes that the Government does not have blanket policy of building more faith schools or more non-faith schools but instead supports schools with a religious character where there is evidence that this is what the local community wants.

It specifically states that the government supports independent schools joining the state sector when parents, a school and local community want it, clearly the case with regard to Iqra.

For further information contact:
Iqra Independent School
3-5 Gresham Road
Brixton
London
SW9 7PH
020 7501 9710
headteacher@iqraschool.co.uk