The Islamic school in Britain

In the playground, teenage boys kick around a football, relaxing after lessons in maths, science and Islamic studies. On the walls are pupils' drawings of Mecca, and their poems recounting the deeds of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (SAW).
The Jamiatul Ummah Islamic school in the Whitechapel district of east London aims to teach its 150 boys aged 11 to 16 to be both "good citizens and good Muslims" says its principal, Abdur Rahman Madani.
"Pupils are less than 30 per class and they receive two types of education," Madani told AFP.
The first type, which forms 65 percent of the students' syllabus, is the national curriculum, a set of core subjects common to all British schools including maths, science, English and information technology.
The second element, which takes up 35 percent of their time, is religious education and the Arabic language.
In his forties, with a long beard and a serious expression, Madani looks every inch the authority figure.
Strict discipline is the order of the day at the school, which was set up in 1996.
The pupils, the majority of whom are of Bangladeshi origin, wear uniforms, like their counterparts in other British schools, but also a traditional Muslim skullcap.
On the ground floor is a prayer room. The students make their way here at least once a day. In summer, it can be three times a day, Muslim hours of prayer being determined by the rising and setting of the sun.
"Our students are doing well with their studies," Madani said, pointing to government figures which show that the school is in second place in the district in terms of academic results.
"Our school is a independent secondary school, which means that it is not financed by the public authorities, but by the local community, the fees of the students and the donations we collect," said Madani.
"The problem for independent schools is the finance," added the principal. While state schools have around 4,000 pounds (6,000 euros, 7,200 dollars) a year to spend for every pupil, the Jamiatul Ummah Islamic school has half that.
The difficulties faced by such establishments are familiar to 27-year-old Hassan, who was educated in a neighbouring Muslim school.
"Pupils do not receive complete teaching and they have no capacity for higher education," Hassan, who did not want to give his second name, told AFP.
"Some teachers of foreign origin are not able to speak English properly and (the pupils) do not take them seriously."
During his time as a student, more time was spent on activities like learning the Koran by heart than in learning to think independently, added Hassan, who is now a teacher in a state school.
Madani does not deny that there are problems, admitting: "We need more training for our teachers."
But he pointed out that, just like state schools, establishments such as his own are inspected by government education officials.
"Muslim schools are improving," he added.