Welcome 

 Assalamu Alaikum, Dear Parents and Carers. As we end our term, we are delighted to share this latest edition of our newsletter with you. It has been an incredibly busy and productive time at Iqra Primary School, filled with inspiring visits, creative celebrations, and wonderful achievements by our students. This newsletter highlights the many ways our children are excelling in their studies, growing in their faith, and engaging with the wider community. We hope you enjoy reading about our recent activities and we thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child’s education.

World Book Day 

Yesterday, our school was transformed for World Book Day, and what a brilliant day it was! We were blown away by the creativity on display. From the Iron Man to Where’s Wally, the variety of handmade and carefully planned costumes was truly impressive. A huge thank you to all our parents for your hard work in bringing these characters to life!

Highlights of the Day:

• Morning Assembly: We enjoyed a costume parade and shared helpful tips from famous authors on what to do when you don’t know what to read. 

• The Big Book Quiz: Our pupils put their literary knowledge to the test in a thrilling (and competitive!) book quiz.

• Reading Champions: We are proud to announce that sixteen children in KS2 were recognized for their consistent reading habits. As a reward for their dedication, they were each gifted a brand-new book to take home.

Our teachers did a wonderful job promoting a love for reading throughout the day. It was a joy to see the children so engaged with their favorite stories.

Ramadan Reminders: Our Rising Stars!

At the start of the month, we challenged our students to create their own "Ramadan Reminder" videos—and we were certainly not disappointed!

Our families did a stellar job helping the children record positive messages from the Quran and Hadith. These videos reminded us all of the true spirit of Ramadan: kindness, patience, and devotion.

We have been sharing these videos during our morning assemblies, giving the whole school a wonderful dose of daily positivity. It has been the perfect way to start our mornings with reflection and a smile.

A huge thank you to all the parents who supported their children in filming and editing these clips. Your effort truly shines through—some real stars were born!

An Amazing Book Fair!

Back in February, our school hosted a Scholastic Book Fair, giving our students a fantastic opportunity to browse and buy new stories to enjoy at home.

Thanks to your generosity and your children’s passion for reading, we are thrilled to announce that we raised over £900! New Books for Our Library Every penny of this money will go directly toward purchasing new books for the school library. This will ensure our children have access to the latest and most engaging stories to support their learning and imagination.

A huge thank you to everyone who supported the fair—your contribution is helping us build a brighter future for our young readers!

Governors & Parents Meeting: Shaping Our Future

On February 27th, we held a meeting between our School Governors and a full turnout of parents. It was an opportunity for families to share their thoughts, ask questions, and offer ideas for the future of our school.

Important Dates!

Coffee Morning - all are welcome. Come and find out about our new PTA and how you can get involved. Friday 27th March 8.30am in the school hall. 

Children return after the Eid Break on Tuesday 24th March.

A Special Visit from Author Stephen Davies

On Wednesday, we were delighted to welcome the celebrated author Stephen Davies to our school. It was a day filled with inspiration and creativity for our young writers.

Stephen kicked off the day with an engaging assembly. He shared a secret of the trade: how authors often start with just one simple question when writing a book. He also explained how a trip to the British Museum sparked the ideas for his own stories, showing the children that inspiration can be found anywhere!

Children distribute dates

Continuing our annual tradition, the Headteacher and several of our Iqra students visited Lambeth Town Hall to distribute dates in honor of Ramadan. The Headteacher was accompanied by Councillor Bray to the Town Hall, where our students had the honour of meeting the Mayor of Lambeth, Adrian Garden.

Our children did a fantastic job representing the school, personally handing out dates and confidently explaining the significance of Ramadan to those they met. It was a proud moment for Iqra Primary, showing how our students are active, thoughtful members of the Lambeth community.

Learning Beyond the Classroom: School Trips & Visits

Our students have been busy extending their learning through a variety of educational trips and special workshops. These experiences help bring their classroom lessons to life!

• Year 5 Maths Masterclass: A group of our Year 5 mathematicians attended a prestigious Maths Masterclass at the Royal Institution, sharpening their problem-solving skills.
• Year 5 V&A Museum: Our Year 5 students explored the world-class collections at the Victoria and Albert Museum, sparking their creativity.
• Year 3 British Museum: To support their study of Ancient Egyptians, Year 3 visited the British Museum to see history up close.

• Year 3 Pedestrian Training: Our Year 3 pupils took part in practical road safety training, learning how to navigate our local streets safely.
• Year 5 & 6 Road Safety: Our older students also participated in a dedicated road safety session to prepare them for more independent travel.

Year 4 & St. Andrews School: As part of our ongoing Interfaith Project, Year 4 hosted students from St. Andrews School. The two classes spent the day learning about one another, discussing the beautiful similarities and interesting differences between their faiths and cultures.

Ramadan Quran Quiz

In welcoming Ramadan, the month of the Quran, our students participated in a special Quran Quiz. It was a wonderful way to celebrate our faith and the children's hard work.

The children were organized into teams and tested on their knowledge of Quranic facts, as well as their beautiful recitation. The competition was close, and we were so impressed by the dedication shown by all our pupils.

It was a pleasure to see so many parents in attendance to support their children. We even threw a few "cheeky" questions the parents' way to keep everyone on their toes! Thank you for joining us and making it such a lively event.

A huge well done to our winning teams! May Allah (SWT) reward all our students for their efforts in learning His Book.

A Vision for the Future: Our Secondary School Project

We believe our children deserve an education that provides both academic excellence and an environment that caters to their Islamic needs.

As our children grow, we recognize the need for a secondary school in Lambeth that continues to serve our families with a strong Islamic Ethos. To make this a reality, Iqra has officially started the process of applying to establish a secondary school.

The local council needs to know that there is a strong demand for this school. You can support this initiative by:

• Writing to your local councillor: Share why you believe a Muslim secondary school is needed in our borough.
• Sending an email: Explain the importance of having a school that aligns with your family’s values and faith.

Your Local Ward Councillors

There are 63 councillors in Lambeth representing different areas (wards). It is very effective to email the councillors who specifically represent the street where you live.

• How to find them: Visit www.lambeth.gov.uk/councillors and enter your postcode.
• What to say: Simply explain that you are a resident in their ward and a parent at Iqra Primary School. Tell them why you want to see a Muslim secondary school with an Islamic ethos established in Lambeth for your child’s future. 

A Respectful Community

Finally, we must address some feedback from our neighbors. We have received persistent complaints regarding cars being parked illegally on private property nearby. We ask that all parents park legally and safely during drop-off and pick-up times, as this reflects our school values.

Furthermore, Councillor Ben Kind has raised concerns about littering in the surrounding streets. In Islam, cleanliness is a key part of our faith, and we kindly ask all parents and children to ensure that any litter is taken home or placed in a bin responsibly. Let’s work together to ensure Iqra Primary remains a respected part of the community.