Ethnicity, Religion, and Muslim Education in a Changing World: Navigating Contemporary Perspectives on Multicultural Schooling in the UK

A selection of the book’s contributors will be present for this Education Leadership Academy seminar, to share their perspectives.  

About the Seminar

The reporting of the “Trojan Horse” scandal in 2014, which claimed that extremist Muslims had taken control of some Birmingham schools, brought attention to long-standing issues involving the education of British Pakistani and other Muslim students. Researchers have examined how racialization and securitization dynamics have impacted the professionalisation and life experiences of Muslim teachers. At the same time, studies have given voice to students' and parents' perspectives on events like the Trojan Horse. More broadly, scholars have traced systemic issues in leadership and teacher training that shape minority student experiences in state schools. The interplay of ethnicity, religion, and politics continues to pose complex questions for the equitable education of minority and Muslim communities in contemporary Britain.
Tahir Abbas

Examples of addressing Muslim needs are provided as are pupil voice on racism, the curriculum, and British values. How can schools best provide a culturally responsive pedagogy that respects the contribution of parents as the first educators. New challenges are posed on multilingualism, teaching of ‘all’ histories and creating community cohesion through schools linking.
Karamat Iqbal

Speaker Biographies

Dr Karamat Iqbal

Dr Karamat Iqbal has over 40 years’ experience in education, with a particular focus on Birmingham. His previous works include: British Pakistani boys, education and the role of religion (based on research in 3 local schools), Dear Birmingham and a chapter in the Birmingham Book (ed: Colin Diamond). 

Professor Tahir Abbas

Professor Tahir Abbas is a professor at the Institute of Security and Global Affairs at Leiden University in the Netherlands. Born in Small Heath, Birmingham, he has been an academic and professional researcher for 30 years, with a particular interest in ethnicity, sociology of education, political violence, and contemporary critical terrorism studies. 

Aminul Hoque

Aminul Hoque is a lecturer in Educational Studies at University of London. His doctoral research formed the basis of his book of British-Islamic Identity: Third Generation Bangladeshis from East London. His work focuses on multicultural Britain, identity, social justice, youth policy, religion, culturally responsive pedagogies, inclusive education, race relations and Islamic feminism.