A small independent primary in Evington, Leicester, Al-Islamia Institute for Education combines a mainstream academic curriculum with a clearly defined Islamic ethos. The school’s stated values are captured in IKHLAS, a framework it uses to link character, learning and community expectations.
The most recent published inspection outcome is Good, with all key areas also graded Good, and the independent school standards met. Safeguarding is recorded as effective.
Families looking at this school are usually weighing three things: a faith-informed environment, a small-scale setting, and practical affordability compared with many independents. Fees are low by independent standards, but there are still meaningful extras to plan for, such as uniform items and any optional activities.
The school describes itself as part of a charitable project founded in 2006, with a purpose that goes beyond delivering the national curriculum. The head teacher’s welcome sets the tone, with a strong emphasis on sincerity, service and the idea that pupils should grow into confident contributors to British society.
A defining feature here is the IKHLAS framework, an acronym used to express values across school life. In practice, this tends to show up in how expectations are framed: learning is paired with conduct, healthy living and leadership, and spiritual development is treated as part of the everyday, not an add-on.
Because the school is small, culture is likely to feel close-knit and adult-led. That can suit pupils who thrive with clear routines and firm boundaries, particularly when home and school expectations align. For families seeking a broader social mix or a bigger peer group, the size will feel more limiting, even when class sizes are intentionally capped.
There are no performance metrics or rankings available for this school, so the best external benchmark for quality is inspection evidence and the coherence of the curriculum the school publishes.
The latest Ofsted inspection (8 to 10 April 2025) judged the school Good overall, with Good grades for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management, and confirmed the independent school standards are met.
One practical improvement point from that inspection is worth understanding as a parent because it relates to classroom practice rather than headline compliance. The report identifies that pupils are not always given enough time to rehearse and explain answers when teachers question them, which can limit how confidently pupils articulate deeper understanding and subject vocabulary.
The published curriculum structure is a clear strength because it shows the school has moved beyond generic intent statements and into mapped content. The curriculum page points parents to progression maps and year-group curriculum maps, alongside timetables and subject-specific strands.
Early reading, mathematics and computing were key focus areas in the most recent inspection activities, which suggests leadership is paying attention to foundational skills and the consistency of teaching approaches. Computing being part of that focus is notable for a small primary, since it often gets less attention than reading and maths.
Personal development is also structured rather than vague. The inspection evidence highlights coverage of healthy lifestyles, risk awareness, and participation in UK Parliament Week, alongside broader religious literacy where pupils learn about major world religions and discuss similarities and differences respectfully. This matters for families who want an Islamic setting that still prepares children to engage confidently with wider society.
As a primary-age school, the main “destination” question is Year 7 transfer rather than public exam outcomes. The supplied data does not include named secondary transfer patterns, and the school does not appear to publish a quantified list of feeder secondaries on the pages reviewed.
For most families, the practical next step is to consider Leicester City secondary options early, especially if you are weighing faith-based secondaries, selective routes, or specific travel constraints. If you are moving into the area, it is also worth building a Plan A and Plan B list of secondaries before committing, because a small primary can feel like a very good fit, but the secondary step is where logistics and availability become more complex.
The school operates a waiting list arranged by application date. The admissions policy also indicates that, when places are available, factors considered include siblings already at the school, children of staff, position on the waiting list, and residence in the Leicester City priority area.
Unlike local authority coordinated Reception admissions in the state sector, independent primary admissions typically run on a more flexible, place-availability basis. This school’s admissions policy supports that picture, and it also references opportunities for families to visit and see the school, including a scheduled summer fun day that is advertised via the school calendar.
If your child is joining mid-year, ask directly about class size at the intended year group and how quickly a place can be confirmed, since one-form entry models can fill unevenly across the school.
Safeguarding is an area where parents should expect clarity, not marketing language. The most recent inspection records safeguarding arrangements as effective, and it notes governance oversight of safeguarding as part of meeting the independent school standards.
The staff list published for 2025 to 2026 shows clear role allocation, including a designated safeguarding lead and a pastoral lead, which is a reassuring signal in a small setting because roles can otherwise become blurred.
Pastoral feel in a faith-based school often depends on alignment between home and school expectations. Families who share the school’s approach to conduct, language and routines often find that consistency helps children settle quickly. If your child needs a looser behavioural style, or if you want a more plural ethos day-to-day, it is important to clarify what “fit” looks like before enrolling.
The school does not publish a conventional list of clubs and societies in the way many larger primaries do, so parents should not assume the typical menu of weekly after-school options without checking. That said, the wider experience here seems to be built through structured curriculum enrichment and faith-linked routines, rather than a large club timetable.
Two school-specific strands that do stand out from the published site structure are Sunnah Focus and Duas and Supplication, which indicate regular attention to faith learning and daily practice in an age-appropriate way, especially for younger children.
There is also a practical “beyond the classroom” story in the published curriculum resources. The curriculum page signposts reading support and structured subject mapping, which can be helpful for families who want to reinforce learning at home without relying on guesswork.
If extracurricular breadth is a priority, the most reliable approach is to ask the school for the current term’s enrichment and wraparound offer, since small-school provision can change year to year with staffing and pupil numbers.
*Bursaries may be available for eligible families.
Basis: per year
Opening times are published on the school’s notice board. For the primary phase, Monday to Thursday runs 8:15am to 2:50pm, and Friday runs 8:15am to 2:30pm. Early years sessions have separate timings.
Wraparound care is referenced in school policies, but the reviewed pages do not set out a parent-facing description of what is currently offered, how it is booked, or the hours covered. If you need breakfast or later pickup as a non-negotiable, confirm the current provision directly before committing.
Uniform expectations are published, including school-branded items and a price list for some items.
The school publishes a fee sheet updated in June 2025 that includes VAT treatment. For the primary phase, the annual fee is listed as £2,600 plus £520 VAT. A one-time admission fee is listed as £150 plus £30 VAT, and there is also a refundable deposit of £150.
Early years funding is referenced for eligible children. Nursery pricing exists on the same published fee sheet, but families should refer to the school’s official documentation for the current early years position, including funded hours, session patterns and any additional-hour costs.
This is a lower-fee independent model, so the most important financial planning point is to understand the full annual picture: tuition, uniform, and any optional activities. Ask what is included in the core fee and what is charged separately.
Limited published outcomes data. With no exam or benchmark performance metrics available you are relying more heavily on inspection evidence and the published curriculum detail to judge academic strength.
Classroom talk and explanation. The most recent inspection highlights a need for more consistent opportunities for pupils to rehearse and explain their learning. If your child benefits from structured discussion and lots of verbal reasoning, it is worth asking how teaching is adapting.
Shorter school day than many primaries. Primary finish times of 2:50pm (Monday to Thursday) and 2:30pm (Friday) can be challenging for working families without reliable wraparound arrangements.
Extracurricular offer may be smaller. The school’s public pages do not currently set out a detailed clubs programme. If clubs are central to your child’s confidence and friendships, request the current list before enrolling.
Al-Islamia Institute for Education is a small independent primary where ethos and routine are central, and where the curriculum is presented with more structure than many schools of similar size. The latest inspection outcome supports a picture of steady quality, with a clear next step around strengthening pupil talk and explanation in lessons.
Who it suits: families seeking an Islamic values-led environment in Leicester, who want a smaller setting, clear behavioural expectations, and published curriculum mapping they can engage with at home. Entry feels less about test performance and more about availability and fit, so the best next move is to confirm the current class-size position, wraparound offer, and enrichment programme for the year your child would join.
The most recent Ofsted inspection (April 2025) judged the school Good overall, with all key areas graded Good, and confirmed that the independent school standards are met. Safeguarding is also recorded as effective.
The latest published fee sheet (uploaded June 2025) lists a primary annual fee of £2,600 plus £520 VAT, alongside a one-time admission fee and a refundable deposit. For early years, the school references funded hours for eligible children, and families should check the school’s official fee documentation for current early years arrangements.
The published admissions policy indicates the school operates a waiting list arranged by application date. When places are available, factors considered include siblings already at the school and residence in the Leicester City priority area, among others.
Published opening times state primary runs 8:15am to 2:50pm Monday to Thursday, and 8:15am to 2:30pm on Friday. Early years sessions have separate timings.
Policies reference wraparound care arrangements in general terms, but the reviewed parent-facing pages do not clearly set out the current offer, hours, or booking process. Families who need wraparound should confirm the current arrangements directly with the school before applying.
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