London, Jan 24, IRNA ,Students in Muslim primary schools in Britain continue to outperform the national average in Key Stage 2 Level 4 and above exams (KS2L4+), according figures of last year’s results compiled by the Muslim News.
Some 85 percent of 11 year-olds sitting the exams in 34 Muslim schools attained KS2L4+, three percent higher than the average quoted by the Department For Children, Schools and Families.
“The success in surpassing the average in English, Maths and Science was achieved despite meagre resources” and without state support,” Muslim News editor Ahmed Versi said.
“If Muslim schools are given government funding they would do even better,” Versi said. The average is higher since the Muslim News started to exclusively publish league tables of Muslim schools.
The combined result of the Muslim schools exceeds the national average in English (6 per cent higher), Maths (13 per cent higher) and Science (4 per cent higher).
The figures also show that the number of children sitting the exam in Muslim schools also continues its annual rise with 726 children taking the tests, 134 more than 2006, and 239 more than 2005.
Of the 34 featured Muslim schools, the exams were sat in 25 coeducation schools, four girls’ schools and three boys’ schools.
Thirty were independent, three were voluntary aided and one is comprehensive.
Overall 27 schools have a KS2L4+ result higher than their local education authority, and 24 schools (71 per cent) beat the national average of 82 per cent. Four attained 100 per cent results.