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Community LifeYou are in: London > London Local > Redbridge > Community Life > Do we need faith schools?  Someera Butt Headteacher Al-Noor Primary Do we need faith schools?Ramaa Sharma With an increasing number of Faith schools in borough, The Redbridge Faith Forum has been discussing the validity of them in an area that has successful comprehensives. Faith School Facts6 Roman Catholic Primary Schools There’s also a Sikh school at the edge of the borough that is attended by a number of Redbridge students. Ethnic Minority Population in Redbridge Schools69.2% of pupils in primary schools are classified as ethnic minority 65.2% in secondary schools are classified as an ethnic minority The figures are higher in the following schools: 97.1% Uphall Primary School 93.6% Loxford School of Science & Technology 89% Valentines High School Successful SchoolsRedbridge achieved its best GCSE results ever in 2006 and is now in the top two boroughs in the country for pupils obtaining at least 5 GCSE grades A-C – second only to the Isles of Scilly
The borough of Redbridge enjoys the reputation for having good schools. It’s also one of the most diverse boroughs in London. Secular ComprehensivesIn Redbridge almost 70% of pupils in primary schools are from an ethnic minority and that figure is 65% in secondary schools. Valentines High School in Gants Hill is one such school, almost 90% of the pupils there are from BME communities. Shirley Forbes, the Outreach and Community Forum at the school, says they are a secular school so diversity is not an issue. They are also a school that does not run any faith based assemblies. So with comprehensives considering the ethnic make up of their schools why does the borough need faith schools? Someera Butt, Headteacher of Al-Noor a Muslim primary school, says that comprehensives can’t cater for the needs of Muslim students like faith based schools can. “We're finding that there was an increase of anti-social behaviour amongst Muslim children and realised the Madarassas were just a sticking plaster of the problem… schools need to acknowledge everything about the children from the outset.” Al-Noor Primary follows the National Curriculum teaching all core subjects, runs a weekly Islamic studies class, four lessons of Arabic and four lessons about the Qu’ran. Someera believes a child that is well founded in spirituality and morality will become good British Citizen. However, Amir Shah a Citizenship Teacher, shared a number of concerns that had been raised with him. Including how a Muslim, homosexual teenager would feel in a faith school. To hear Someera Butt's response to this and how Al-Noor Primary operates click on the video feature above. For further details about the Redbridge Faith Forum call 020 8708 2478 or email Urmi Archarya on Urmi.Acharya@redbridge.gov.uk last updated: 28/12/2007 at 15:34 SEE ALSOYou are in: London > London Local > Redbridge > Community Life > Do we need faith schools?
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