School cash bid to set up Islamic secondary

Lessons to be based on Koran but open to all pupils

A MUSLIM school is seeking taxpayer funding for a radical expansion into secondary education.

The Al-Qalam school, in Pollokshields, Glasgow, wants to be the first in Scotland to provide state-funded education based on Islamic teachings and outside council control, according to reports.

This would see pupils working towards Curriculum for Excellence qualifications but through lessons based on the Koran, with non-Muslim pupils welcome to attend.

The Scottish Government confirmed yesterday that it had received the application, which was under consideration.

Al-Qalam is the latest school to champion state-funded education run by the community, rather than local councillors.

Nicola Sturgeon is already considering proposals from families in East Dunbartonshire to take over the running of St Joseph’s Primary, a Catholic school, in Milngavie, which is being shut by the council.

The Al-Qalam website says it is the country’s ‘first independent school delivering Scottish Curriculum for Excellence with Islamic education’.

Having started with only Primary 1 pupils, it now has 45 pupils and ten staff. Annual fees range from £1,750 for Primary 1 pupils, to £2,500 for Primary 6. The expansion would add 60 secondary pupils.

The Al-Qalam business plan says: ‘The existing school provides a solid foundation from which to build an autonomous school which will deliver excellence in education, through innovation, to the Muslim and wider non-Muslim community.’

Yesterday, Shoeb Sarguroh, the school’s director and curriculum leader, was reported as saying: ‘We are ready to take the next step to move to a secondary school by 2017, expand the facilities and build upon the innovations we have introduced to the Scottish curriculum. There is a demand in this community for an all-through innovative school.’

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson has said her party would introduce a law giving schools the right to opt out of council-run education, if they believe it is in the best interests of pupils.

Yesterday, Scottish Conservative young people spokesman Liz Smith offered qualified support to the Al-Qalam bid. She said: ‘We support diversity in school provision, provided there is parental demand for different types of schools and providing all schools are subject to HMIE [HM Inspectorate of Education] and Care Commission inspections, and providing they follow a fully accredited curriculum and exam structure.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said ‘We have received the submission from the parent group and will respond in due course.’

No one from Al-Qalam was available for comment yesterday.