Pupils were seen praying outside in the car park of Loxford School in Ilford, east London

A school has come under fire after dozens of Muslim children were pictured praying in a car park.

The pupils were allegedly forced to go outside during the holy month of Ramadan as the school will not accommodate some of their lunchtime prayers.

Loxford School in Ilford, east London, has more than 2,000 pupils and a large Muslim student body.

It currently only allows Muslims to pray inside on Fridays for their Jummah prayers, but does not provide a room for their lunchtime prayers from Monday to Thursday.


The headteacher Anita Johnson has been criticised after a photo of children praying in a car park emerged on social media, but the school maintains it does not direct pupils to pray outside.



Nearly 14,000 people have signed a petition calling on Ms Johnson to review the school’s ‘unacceptable’ policy.

Some have accused the school of denying its children their ‘religious freedom’ and right to pray in privacy.

Alimul Al-raze, the chairman of the Loxford Muslim Society, says he’s seen pupils coming to his nearby masjid to pray at lunch.

Loxford School said it will consider reviewing its prayer time policy (Picture: Google)

He told metro.co.uk: ‘We’ve seen some of the students on the streets to catch their prayers at lunchtime.

‘They’re quite rushed and in a stress as they have to come all the way to the masjid which is about five, ten minutes away and then they have to go back.

‘Sometimes they don’t complete their prayers properly.

‘Some of the students come and join us on Friday as there is not enough space over there.’

In a statement, Loxford School said it does allow pupils to pray in the local masjid and will now consider new ‘arrangements’ from Monday to Thursday.

A school spokesperson said: ‘Loxford School has facilitated prayers in school since the current headteacher took up her post in 2007.

‘These prayers are supported by a large contingency of staff.’

The spokesperson said facilities are provided in the school building on Fridays and ‘part of our review will consider arrangement Monday to Thursday.’

They added: ‘Students have never been directed to pray outside. As an open and diverse school we take matters of welfare extremely seriously.

‘Students also have the option to attend local places of worship during all lunchtimes with the consent of their parents.

‘We keep these arrangements under review and will of course be seeking the views of the school’s council, students, teachers, parents and the community moving forward and are working with local community teams and Imam Ajmal Masroor.

‘We will seek to open a contemplation room for all students after the May half term.

‘The students, staff and community of Loxford School have worked together to create an outstanding school with a proud tradition of inclusion within a diverse community.’

Leader of Redbridge Council, Councillor Jas Athwal, said he is ‘satisfied that Loxford School has already made a range of suitable arrangements to allow pupils and staff space and time for self-reflection and prayers.’



He said: ‘We are currently working with the school to look at ways in which the school might further enhance these arrangements.

‘To support the education system across the borough, we will collate a summary of the opportunities and options for prayer and self-reflection in every school.

‘I recognise that these will vary according to individual school sites, timetabling, staffing arrangements and capacity.

‘However, we know that our schools are committed to supporting both students and staff to have time and space for prayer and reflection and will wish to make their arrangements as effective and appropriate as possible.’

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