Our communities

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Our communities Our future Our challenges
Appendix 1
Our communities Our future Our challenges
Working together for a brighter tomorrow
Presented 28th Aug 2008
Working together for a brighter tomorrow
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PO Box 344, Watford, WD17 3XA, Email -
info_at_wmstrust.org Website www.wmstrust.org
SECOND PHASE CONSULTATION 2008
In accordance with the DCSF requirement WMST
carried out the initial survey in 2003 to
establish demand for a Muslim school in Watford
but at a public consultation in 2007 those
present suggested that a more up to date survey
was required to ascertain the demand for the WMST
proposal in the light of changing circumstances.
This presentation offers the nature of the
revised survey and its findings as analysed by
MAK-C Consultancy first presented to LA 28th
August 2008.
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WMST highlighted the main objectives and
presented some important points in the survey
leaflet from the proposal document published and
disseminated widely in 2007 for public
consultation. Reply slips were attached and the
responses analysed in July 2008.

• THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF WMST PROPOSAL ARE TO
• Increase parental choice, broaden range of
  denominational education and
• improve access to mainstream provision for
  Muslim parents.
• 2. Provide an enlightened entitlement curriculum
  which incorporates the National Curriculum and
  faith education within a school of excellence in
  order to equip all its pupils with skills for
  life in a socially cohesive and culturally plural
  society.
• 3. Work in a spirit of partnership with the local
  authority (LA) as the commissioner for education.
• 4. Work in partnership with other schools and
  organisations from the public and the private
  sectors and play a full part in contributing to
  social cohesion and integration.

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WMST is a not for profit community organisation
developing a strategic plan to establish a State
Funded denominational primary school and a
community centre that caters for the religious
culture of Muslim families within the
Hertfordshire area. The proposed school will be a
centre for learning with an Islamic ethos where
Muslims and non-Muslims can receive a broad and
balanced education which does not ignore the
reality of Islam in their lives.
This beacon school of excellence with an Islamic
ethos within the mainstream sector will focus on
community cohesion and building bridges across
different faith, cultural and linguistic groups
within Watford. Our vision is to establish,
maintain and develop a positive and purposeful
school experience for our pupils in order to help
them to realise their full potential. A School
which promotes moral, spiritual, academic,
social, emotional, physical and cultural
excellence in a caring and secure all inclusive
and enlightened Islamic environment, so that they
are better equipped to meet the challenges of
adult life within our plural society and the
global village.
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WMST has committed itself in sharing
responsibility with the LA to explore ways of
funding the building of the Community Centre
within the school complex. The Trustees are
working closely with the LA so that together we
can apply to the relevant funding agencies. The
statements of support at a public meeting on 19th
August 2006 for our proposal by the Mayor,
Dorothy Thornhill and the Managing Director,
Alistair Robertson of Watford District Council is
an indication of the level of acceptance for our
proposal at the top. WMST is putting forward this
proposal to increase diversity of educational
provision within an inclusive society in response
to parental aspirations especially for
disadvantaged sections of our multi faith
community who have traditionally not enjoyed
success in education.
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Reply slip Having read the document
and familiarised myself/ourselves with the
proposal to extend parental choice and increase
diversity of provision within the maintained
sector in Watford I/we....
....(name/s) of
.................................
....... ......................
.....(Address) Tel No/s
.. Email Address..

1631 responses by July 2008
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Results of the Watford Muslim School Trust (WMST)
second phase consultation up to including July
2008 TOTAL NUMBER OF RESPONSES 1631
155395.22
Offer wholehearted support to the LA the WMST
Do not support the proposal because
10 0.61
I am/ we are against the establishment of
Religious schools
9 0.55
I am/ we are opposed to government funding for
Muslim schools
16 0.98
I/we believe Religious schools are likely to
prove divisive
0 0.00
(Other) (please write and tell us your
reasons)
230 14.10
I/we would like to be kept informed of
developments.
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Results of the Watford Muslim School Trust (WMST)
second phase consultation up to including July
2008 TOTAL NUMBER OF RESPONSES 1631
Keep Informed 230 (14.10)
Against Religious Schools 10 (0.61)
Against Government Funding 9 (0.55)
Divisive 16 (0.98)
Other 0 0
Support the proposal
Keep Informed
Against Religious Schools
Against Government Funding
Divisive
Other
Support the proposal 1553 95.22
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Please contact us if you wish to make a
contribution towards our proposal and/or offer
your valued opinions on how best to ensure
compliance with the highest standards of
educational provision embedded in our proposal.
PO Box 344, Watford, WD17 3XA, Email -
info_at_wmstrust.org Website www.wmstrust.org