Islam Focus Week 2016 and trips to the mosque

This week has been a World Faith Focus Week at Sacred Heart and in our RE lessons we have learning about Islam. A big thank you to all our Muslim pupils and their families for sharing information about their faith throughout the week.

To aid the pupil's learning in Key Stage 2, all the classes had an opportunity to visit the Batiful Futuh Mosque.

Children from Pear, Willow, Cedar, Cypress, Elm, Sycamore, Oak and Maple all made the journey to Morden to have a tour of the mosque which is Britain's largest mosque, and one of the largest in western Europe. Over the course of four days, over 200 pupils and their teachers visited the mosque.

Without exception, all classes were attentive, engaged and respectful. Great ambassadors for the school!

Completed in 2003 at a total cost of approximately £15 million, entirely from donations of Ahmadi Muslims in the UK, the mosque covers an area of 5.2 acres (21,000 m2) and the full complex can accommodate up to 10,000 worshippers!

A BIG thank you to everyone at the mosque for making our trips so enjoyable.

It is perhaps worth remembering what UNICEF Article 14 says in detail about religion -

Article 14 (Freedom of thought, conscience and religion): Children have the right to think and believe what they want and to practice their religion, as long as they are not stopping other people from enjoying their rights. Parents should help guide their children in these matters. The Convention respects the rights and duties of parents in providing religious and moral guidance to their children. Religious groups around the world have expressed support for the Convention, which indicates that it in no way prevents parents from bringing their children up within a religious tradition. At the same time, the Convention recognizes that as children mature and are able to form their own views, some may question certain religious practices or cultural traditions. The Convention supports children's right to examine their beliefs, but it also states that their right to express their beliefs implies respect for the rights and freedoms of others.