Principal News Letter We Have Just Completed Our
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E Enterprise Way, North Bretton, Peterborough, PE3 8YQ. Tel: 01733 331433. Email: [email protected] Date: Monday 5th November 2018 Principal News letter We have just completed our Year 7 Induction feedback questionnaire, which will be followed up by a Year 7 Parents evening (including Year 11 following their Mock Exams) from 2.45pm to 4.45pm on Thursday 29th No- vember 2018 at Iqra Academy. Students said; “My overall learning experience at the Academy is positive.” 95% Agree. “I feel safe at School.” 95% Agree and “I have been set Homework, which supports my Studies.” 90% Agree. “I receive feedback on my work and it helps me to improve.” 90% Agree. What are we doing well? Good Lessons (8); Good Teachers (5); Learning (4); PE (3); Homework; Clubs. What could we do better? More time at Lunch (4); Lockers (2); Swimming (2); Improve the Building and equipment; Keep doors and gates locked. Directly following the Students feedback, we will also be ensuring that all Year 7 students have a 1:1 Tutorial and complete an Individual Learning Plan. That they all participating in some kind of Enrichment Activity and that they all meet with our Safeguarding Officer, Mrs Zafar. We will also be looking to reintroduce Swimming sessions for the School. Our new weekly Qirat Club is now running every Monday and Tuesday lunch time, hosted by Qari Muneer, to encourage our students to recite tilawat. We are looking to enter our students into local Qur’an competitions. We have welcomed Qari Muneer from Faizan-e-Madina to Iqra Academy as a staff member. As well as running the Qirat club he will be leading Zuhr Jamaat on Mondays and Tuesdays at the School. Alongside the Qirat club we are running an after-school Madrassah. This will run from Monday-Thursday from 3pm – 4pm term time only. The after-school Madrassah will cost £1 each day. Our Iqra Academy Parents Forum met on the 11th October and discussed the following; Attendees read and agreed on the Parent Forum ‘Terms of Reference’ document, and that it would be a good idea to formalise the group. We are still looking for suggestions and volunteers for a Chairperson. This is some- thing we can discuss again at the next meeting with more attendees. Finances were discussed; Children of Adam are currently sponsoring the Syrian girls and others through the school fees hardship fund. New fee increase has helped the school’s financial status. Unfortunately, many parents are still not paying fees on time every month as requested. Discussed the possibility of Mosque collections at all mosques in Peterborough. Highlighted that brothers are needed to approach mosques in order to do collections there, we have requested help from the Board with this. The school invites the Parent Forum to form a fundraising group and discuss ideas so that money can also be raised for specific needs such as IT equipment or school repairs. With the help of a generous donation from Nabeela’s father, enough funds have been raised for Triple Science to go ahead, Alhamdulillah. Lessons will take place twice a week after school. Concerns were raised about teaching practices in Psychology and Art, and the inadequate level of Islamic Stud- ies. Students need to be given extension work instead of wasting time once classroom work has been com- pleted. Islamic Studies is excellent however, the content is still quite basic for some of the students and they will quickly lose interest if work of an adequate level is not provided. (Mrs Kauser will look into these). The Parent Forum request a breakdown of the Islamic Studies curriculum from the Board to see exactly what the girls are being taught and what is being covered in each subject. More After School Clubs requested; Mrs Kauser to update the Parent Forum in due course. New Islamic Studies teacher has suggested a short Taleem and Dua with the girls every morning to start the day - all agreed that this would be a very welcome addition to the school day. Family trips abroad; present attendees agreed that trips abroad would be beneficial for students. This also needs to be discussed with more parents. Mahram issues can be overcome in various ways, especially if par- ents are also willing to accompany daughters. The Parent Forum look forward to hearing more from the school about these plans. Parent Forum will arrange a meeting between themselves after the October half term break to discuss fund- raising strategies. If you would like to know more about Careers and how you can best support your daughter in her career pro- gression, please look into the following websites: http://parentzone.careerpilot.org.uk/parent https://www.careersadviceforparents.org/ https://ukcareers.ey.com/schools/career-advice/parental-advice http://www.parentadviser.co.uk/advice-for-parents.aspx Our School Football Team have made a winning start to the year and are unbeaten in their first fourteen games of the season. Iqra are currently top of the English Schools County League and have reached the Quarter Finals of the FA Eng- lish Schools County Cup competition. They will soon be starting the defence of their Muslim Schools National League and Cup double competitions, which they have won, both in 2017 and 2018. School Football Team results for 2018/19; Played 14, Won 13, Drawn 1, Lost 0, Goals For 38, Goals Against 3; Below are some diary dates for you to note: • Monday 5th November – Year 10 Work Experience • Monday 5th November – Year 11 Mock Examinations • Tuesday 6th November – Football Academy, Gladstone • Wednesday 7th November – Combined Cadet Force • Thursday 8th November – Governing Board Meeting. • Thursday 8th November – Football Home v Jack Hunt School • Thursday 15th November – Year 9 at World Skills UK at NEC. • Thursday 15th November – Football Home v Witchford College • Thursday 29th November – Year 7 & 11 Parents Evening. • Tuesday 18th December 2018, Term Ends for Students. • Wednesday 2nd January 2019, Staff Training Day • Thursday 3rd January 2019, Term Starts for Students. • Monday 4th February 2019 – Mock Exams Year 10 & 11 • Tuesday 5th February – Unite the Union, Careers visit • Tuesday 12th February – Unite the Union, Careers visit • Wednesday 13th February – Take your Child to work day. • Monday 18th February to Friday 22nd February 2019, Half Term. • Friday 1st March – Year 11 at NEC Birmingham, Careers Show. • Thursday 4th April 2019, Term Ends for Students. • Wednesday 24th April 2019, Term Starts for Students • Monday 6th May 2019, May Day Bank Holiday • Monday 27th May to Tuesday 4th June 2019, Half Term. • Wednesday 5th June – Student timetables resume • Thursday 18th July 2019, Term Ends for Students. Warm regards, Dr Michael Wright - Principal .