Rabia School

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Rabia School
Address
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
Portland Road

Luton
,
Bedfordshire
,
LU4 8AX

England
Coordinates51°53′13″N 0°26′28″W / 51.887°N 0.441°W / 51.887; -0.441Coordinates: 51°53′13″N 0°26′28″W / 51.887°N 0.441°W / 51.887; -0.441
Information
TypeIndependent school
Religious affiliation(s)Muslim
Established1996
Department for Education URN130331 Tables
OfstedReports
HeadmasterMr M Akbar
GenderGirls/Boys (taught separately)
Age2 to 16
Enrolment271 as of March 2016
Websitehttp://www.rabiaschool.uk/

Rabia School is an independent Islamic faith school located in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. The school is owned and operated by a charitable trust (Rabia Education Trust).[1] It is the only Islamic school to offer secondary and sixth form education in Bedfordshire.

History[]

Rabia School was established in January 1996 as a girls school with only seven pupils of primary age on the school register in a residential building. In October 2005 the school expanded by acquiring new, bigger premises for a boys school. Today the school is a full-time primary and secondary independent school for girls and boys aged 5–16 years. Additionally, the school site also now incorporates a nursery school for children aged 2–5.

An Ofsted inspection in May 2014 rated the school as 'inadequate' and a monitoring inspection in January 2015 found that the school was still not meeting independent school standards. The inspections found that teaching was inadequate, and was undermining British values because of restricted educational opportunities for girls. The school has since claimed that it is addressing the issues highlighted in the inspections.[2] However the school previously criticised the 2014 inspection report as being “strongly politically and media led...especially with the recent fallout of the alleged Trojan Horse inquiry in Birmingham”.[3]

In April 2016 Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw revealed that he has written to the Secretary of State for Education twice about Rabia School. The letters warn of serious concerns about staff segregation at the school, with male and female staff being segregated during meetings and training. While Sir Michael conceded that the school had improved in many areas, has warned that staff segregation will prevent the school from moving up from an 'inadequate' rating.[4] In May 2016 the Charity Commission announced it was formally investigating the school.[5]

In 2019 the school was banned from admitting new pupils. In November 2020 it was announced that the Department for Education will apply to formally close the school due to repeated failings.[6] The school is currently in the process of appealing this decision.

The school today[]

Girls and boys attending the school are taught separately in different buildings. The school claims to offers a mainstream education, but also has courses and subjects tailored to the Islamic faith. Special courses include Arabic, Urdu, as well as Aalim courses, and the chance for some pupils to memorise the whole of the Quran.

References[]

  1. ^ "Rabia School - Luton". rabiaschool.uk.
  2. ^ "Luton Rabia School 'undermining British values' in treatment of girls". BBC News. 13 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Islamic faith school slammed for limiting girls to 'knitting and sewing'". lutontoday.co.uk.
  4. ^ "Ofsted warns of Muslim school staff gender segregation". BBC News. 28 April 2016.
  5. ^ Sally Weale (24 May 2016). "Luton Islamic school trust investigated by charities regulator". The Guardian.
  6. ^ "Rabia School in Luton: 'Gender dividing' school to be closed down". BBC News. 12 November 2020.

External links[]

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