In a letter today to parents and guardians of Islamia Primary School, Yusuf Islam confirmed an agreement with Brent Council to postpone a decision on the school’s site until a further review of primary schools in the south of the borough has been carried out.
Dear Parents / Guardians, Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullah
“Whoever is mindful of Allah, He will make a way out for them, and provide for them from sources they could never imagine.” (Qur’an 65:2-3)
I begin by wishing everyone the best of blessings for this new Islamic year, 1445H. May Allah swt make it a year of peace, success, and progress for all associated with our schools, organisations and the community beyond.
As many of you are aware, the Foundation has been working for a long time with the Board of Governors, in consultation with Brent Council, to progress arrangements for a bigger and better home for Islamia Primary School. This story goes back to 2007, when we first helped the local authority to accommodate extra children coming from the closure of the Avenue School. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of your dedicated Governors to ensure that an appropriate outcome is achieved.
Last week, I had a meeting with the Leader and Chief Executive of Brent Council to discuss the issue face to face. They ideally wanted a decision about the proposed site on Strathcona Road by Friday 21 July. Al- hamdulillah, we were able to obtain an agreement to put off that decision until a further review of schools in the south of the borough.
During the meeting, I advised the Leader that the Foundation has agreed to extend the school’s stay at Salusbury Road until at least the end of the next academic year, 2024, to provide additional time for the local authority to identify any possible alternative sites.
As a result of this extension, we were assured by the local authority that the funds allocated for the school’s relocation would remain secure and available for the primary school until at least the end of this year, by which time we will be able to review other possibilities they may come up with.
Insha Allah, we will have a wonderful opportunity to provide IPS with a new home that offers modern facilities and resources. This is the least that the pupils, parents, and staff of the school deserve after having to cope with the difficulties caused by the split-site arrangement (Winkworth Hall) for well over a decade.
At the same time, we continue to work on ambitious plans to modernise the Salusbury Road site for our secondary schools as part of a comprehensive long-term vision. We have had to keep these plans on hold for 15 years, so that we could accommodate the needs of the primary school, but it is now time for us to move forward with more determination for those plans.
Twenty-five years ago, we made history by becoming the first Muslim government aided school in this country. Many parents today are not fully aware of the immense struggle we had to go through to secure state funding. But Allah is the Granter of success.
This is the 40th anniversary year of our school’s opening, and I believe that we are at the doorstep of another milestone, insha Allah. As we know, Allah promises “with hardship comes ease” (Qur’an 94:5-6).
Islamia Primary parent, Jamad Guled, was contacted by Wembley Matters for an assessment of what this means for Islamia families:
There is a sense of relief among the parent body. We all remember the initial tone of the consultation. The move to Strathcona sounded inevitable back then and if it did not materialise the only other proposed outcome would have been the closure of the school. As parents and stakeholders we were extremely alarmed and we have raised our concerns with the school governors and Brent Council.
This communication is far more positive and acknowledges the need for a local solution which is paramount to current families. It also recognises the the importance of preserving this extraordinary school. This is reassuring in many ways and we hope that the Yusuf Islam Foundation, IPS Governing Body and Brent Council will take into account stakeholders' views and will work together to find a satisfactory local solution so that children are not left behind.
18 comments:
It still sounds like they expect Brent residents to provide a new school so they can sell the present site off for megabucks
The letter states that the siteis to be used for the expansion of the Foundation's private secondary schools. There may to be covenants that restrict the site to educational use.
We will see
I read the published consultation and it was between shutting down or moving the school to South Kenton which would have been disastrous for the families they serve now. This is an iconic school and l do not think one second that Yusuf Islam ever consider closing it so why play games with the families? There is a large Muslim population in the area surrounding the school. This has not been taken into the equation as somebody is pushing for South Kenton for whatever reason.
The ‘large Muslim population’ surrounding the school is too poor for IPS and there are richer Muslim families in South Kenton and Harrow. We are to be abandoned by the IPS Governors and Brent Council - a ‘’Labour’’ council we voted for?
Who benefits:
1.YI and Foundation get a new school in an area of rich parents
2. YI and foundation don’t have to pay a cent for either the building or the site
3. YI and foundation get to have a private school in a building in Kilburn sold to them by Brent Council to provide a state funded primary school
4. YI says plans on ‘hold’ for 15 years but Brent paid for a new school at the Kilburn site and YI collected money from parents for a prayer hall in it and then refused to build the school or the prayer hall. The wait was for a Labour Council in Brent stupid enough to write a cheque for a new school and give away public land to build it on.
Who loses?
1. IPS parents - the ones who have to work in low paid jobs in Kilburn don’t have a car and can’t afford tickets and time off work to go to Kenton twice a day.
2. Brent rate payers as pop star struck Butt hands over £10m+ and a site to his friend while pretending it’s his legal duty!
3. Parents and residents in Kenton who get shorter life expectancy lung disease and cars everywhere (richer parents from Kenton & Harrow drive to school) just as Labour tells them the ULEz is good for their health???
4. Anyone who thought YI or Brent Labour were defenders of Muslims the poor or people who suffer discrimination.
5. The parent at the Kenton school when YI kicks them out again in 10 or 20 years and Brent Council have to find £50m?? For YI’s third school (and Brent Labour complains about Tory corrupt gifts to their friends 😀😀😀)
Quite spot on l must say. How can a land purchased to house a state funded school be offered on a plate for private purposes? Moreover, there is a clear and chilling element of discrimination in the
decision making process. A distinct wish to seek more affluent families which translates in the last admissions policies put forward by the current governing body and this eviction. The council must be cautious about this and avoid being dragged in future discrimination lawsuits. Quite extraordinary for a Muslim school to do this.
Excellent analysis.
I briefly worked in that school. Those poor kids are squashed, have an awful canteen , non existent playground, split site in a building with tiny classes that become ovens in summer. Shared facilities with older girls and teachers from the independent schools. It is extraordinary that this school is doing so well operating under those circumstances. Saddest part there is no real desire to secure something better. School blames Brent. Brent blames school. Kids, staff and oarents held hostages in all this.
It looks like IPS School tells staff and parents it’s all Brent’s fault. But here’s the Council’s plan for a new school - https://pa.brent.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?previousCaseType=Property&keyVal=DCAPR_102134&previousCaseNumber=PROPLPI_202046239_1&previousCaseUprn=202046239&activeTab=summary&previousKeyVal=PROPLPI_202046239_1
Council ignored local community’s view of planning application pushed it through and then IPS said no because evicting the present school means they get two schools & richer parents and Brent pays all the cost! (All residents of Brent pay)
Labour and Butt’s own local ‘PPS style’ giveaway to their friends!
Yes Anon 30 July 09.58
This is the 2016 letter from Brent:
Ms Hui Hui Teoh
Marks Barfield Architects
50 Bromells Road
London
SW4 0BG
Our Ref:
Contact:
10/2389
Claire Steele
21 September, 2016
Dear Ms Hui Hui Teoh
TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 (as amended)
The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order
2015
Case Reference 10/2389
Location Islamia School Centre, 129 Salusbury Road, London, NW6 6PE
Proposal Erection of a part two-storey and part three-storey primary school building with a playground at roof level
I refer to the above application which was received to the Council on 20/09/2010. Given the time that has lapsed I am treating your application as “finally disposed of” under Article 40(13) of the
above Order. This is because the period for making a decision on this application has expired, and no appeal has been made to the Secretary of State.
No further action will be taken on this case and it will be removed from the register of planning applications awaiting a decision.
If you require any further information please contact the Officer named at the top of this letter.
I find this whole saga of Islamia Primary School concerning. Segregated schools reinforce class divisions and social inequalities, which fundamentally contradict the principles of Marxism that seek to establish a classless and egalitarian society.
The decision to postpone the school's relocation based on consultations with the Brent Council raises concerns about the perpetuation of separate educational institutions for different religious or cultural groups. Such segregation tends to lead to unequal access to resources, opportunities, and social networks, perpetuating the advantages of certain classes over others.
While the post highlights the efforts of the school and its governing body to secure funding and better facilities, it fails to address the broader implications of having segregated schools. Marxism advocates for a unified educational system that transcends religious or cultural differences and promotes a collective consciousness among all members of society.
The parent's positive response to the postponement of the decision may be understandable from their immediate perspective, but it reinforces the idea of viewing education through the lens of individual interests rather than considering the larger societal impact of segregated schools.
In a Marxist framework, it is essential to advocate for educational policies that promote integration, inclusivity, and equal opportunities for all students, regardless of their religious or cultural backgrounds. The goal should be to build a unified and egalitarian education system that fosters solidarity and cooperation among all members of society, working towards the eventual abolition of class distinctions.
Maybe a Marxist framework is of less importance when it’s your child and their welfare and friendships that’s at stake.
Brent has a large proportion of Muslim residents and has many Muslim councillors. Sadly they all seem completely uninterested in serving the Muslim community and helpong this school. I suggest this translates in the next elections. No point in voting for Butt and co. Vote Green and get these lot out. I know l will.
If as a parent, the well-being and friendships of your child are of paramount importance then it's crucial to consider the implications to your children’s well-being of segregated schools beyond trivial concerns.
Segregated schools perpetuate social divisions and hinder the progress towards a more equal society. While it may provide a sense of community and familiarity in the short term, it can inadvertently reinforce class disparities and limit opportunities for children from different backgrounds to interact and learn from each other.
In the long run, an education system that promotes integration and inclusivity can foster a more compassionate and understanding society, where children from diverse backgrounds can work together towards a common future. It is not about diminishing the importance of your child's welfare and friendships but about advocating for a system that benefits all children, not just a select few.
Millions of children have been educated in faith schools in the UK and they went on to become productive and responsible members of the society. Maybe let's focus on the real discrimination, the one that will not allow the only VA Muslim school in the borough to secure a building for those children. You can keep the secular and Marxist argument for dinner parties. It is about children's lives, health and wellbeing.
The school has a building and the Council paid for a new one to be designed gave it planning permission and were willing to pay for it to be built. The school refused to let the building work progress and then complain about the poor state of their facilities?
All VA schools own their buildings but this is the only one in the borough asking its pupils and teachers to leave the site so they can open a private school. The only discrimination is against poorer parents by richer parents both of the Muslim faith.
This is a better topic for the dinner party but inconvenient for the school who wants to pretend it is the Council who is making this mess.
Hold on. Hasn't the building been purchased partly with donations and fundraising to BE a VA school? Why is it ok that kids are asked to leave so that a private school can occupy the premises? Are councillors Butt and kenelly committed to represent the LA and their constituents or support business ventures for the Islam Foundation? This needs to be looked into.
Why do we need separate schools? All of our children should be taught together to encourage true diversity.
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