MEMBERS of Southampton’s Islamic community say a Muslim school for children is in great demand because many parents feel they are being failed by mainstream education.

Plans for a private primary school to offer Islamic education for children in the city have been welcomed by parents, according to some of the city’s Mosques.

Zahir Ahmad, secretary of Southampton Central Abu Backr Mosque said parents had been talking about the planned private Islamic school and considering it for their children.

“It has been a talking point for many parents who feel their children would benefit,”

he said.

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“A lot of people feel let down by the education in schools around the city with the poor results they have been getting.

“What is surprising is that it is often the poorer families who are on benefits that seem to like the idea the most.

“The proposed school would offer Islamic education to children, aged five to eleven for about £30 a week.

“As a Mosque I think it is fair to say we are neutral on the plans and we have a range of after school clubs that teach Islamic lessons which have been popular with families for many years.

Great demand “But a study by Southampton City Council has clearly shown there is a great demand for it in the city,” he added.

The planned school would be the first in the south outside Greater London and could be followed by a secondary school next year.

Anas Al-Korj from the Muslim Council of Southampton is a director of Fitra, the company behind the proposals, and said it “was a community initiative, run by the community, for the good of the community.”

If it is given the all clear by education watchdog Ofsted it could open as early as September in time for the new academic year.

So far the Cultural Centre on the corner of Northumberland Road and St Alban’s Road in St Mary’s is one of four sites suggested for the school, but planning permission may be required.

The prospectus suggests the school will deploy “scientifically- approved” and “theological- endorsed” techniques to repair the damage done to the pupils’ Fitra, or “innate human nature”.

Pupils will be taught to understand and speak Arabic and the curriculum will be based on mainstream Sunni Islam, the largest of the two schools of the religion originating from a historic row over who should succeed the prophet Mohammed.

The school will cover “most of the topics” on the national curriculum, however some unspecified areas of concern, will be adapted or replaced with Islamic alternatives, or ditched.

The school will end at noon on Fridays so that children can attended prayers at one of the six local mosques.

However, the fees, about £1,700-a-year per pupil, and minimum wage salaries being offered to teachers and assistants, will leave school governors reliant on donations and unpaid volunteers to cover a shortfall in income of up to £1m.

It is appealing to the city’s Muslim community to “adopt” one of six qualified teachers being recruited, through sponsorship.

Census figures for 2001 show 1.9 per cent of Southampton’s population identify their religion as Muslim, rising to as high as 11.8 per cent in the city centre Bevois ward.