Updated 15 June 2011
The Education Committee of The Council of European Jamaats held the annual Easter Revision Course in Malvern St James, Great Malvern, Worcestershire, between 10th – 16th April. GCSE Biology, IGCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry, IGCSE Chemistry, GCSE English Language, GCSE English Literature, GCSE Mathematics, IGCSE Mathematics, GCSE Physics, IGCSE Physics, A Level Biology, A Level Human Biology, A Level Chemistry, A Level Economics and A Level Core Mathematics were taught in classes.
The course was attended by 40 students (20 GCSE and 20 A Level), of which 26 were male and 14 female. Most UK Jamaats were represented.
Nine subject helpers (5 male, 4 female) were chosen based on their academic abilities and community involvement to act as teaching assistants during classes, personal tutors during private study and surgery sessions, and mentors during sports, breaks and recreational times. The course, overseen by Amir Walji, Chair of the Education Committee, was most ably jointly led by sister Fatima Damani and Mohammedabbas Karim. Nine teachers from within and outside the community were recruited to disseminate information to our children over a 5 day period consisting of 31.25 classroom hours and 11.25 surgery hours.
The course was deliberately intensive; however, some extra-curricular provision was made. This included timetabled sports activities, climbing Malvern Hills and watching an ‘Apprentice’ sketch. In addition, all students participated in congregational prayers for Zohr and Maghrib, and there were special programmes on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
Throughout the week students conducted themselves in an exemplary manner and were a credit to their parents/guardians and the community at large.
All the teachers were impressed with the enthusiasm and commitment shown by the students; the good manners and general courtesy displayed was a reflection of good parenting.
Also present throughout the course was Mrs Waheeda Rahim, CoEJ Executive Councillor, who provided personal and pastoral support to students as and when deemed appropriate or necessary.
Feedback from students, parents, mentors and teachers was extremely positive with constructive comments on future improvements. Below are two student diary entries reflecting on events after a typical hectic day.
Day 4 - The Malvern Climb – Thursday 15 April
We went to sleep on Wednesday night (well, some of us did!) filled with overflowing joy of not having to go for the infamous hill-walk that day due to the Prophet Nuh – esque rain which drenched Malvern to the bane. We woke up on Thursday morning dreading the walk, praying that extra bit that the clouds would unleash their contents on us once again. Alas, it was not to be, and we grudgingly assembled in the namaaz room to put ourselves through a torturous few hours of lugging our lactic acid filled legs (thanks Mrs Parveen) up a hill.
So we started the walk, complaining from the first step and hoping that the actual hill wasn’t steeper than the road we were walking up. After much waiting for the stragglers we finally reached the foot of the hill. Some boys decided that they would not only climb the hill but run to the top. The first hurdle, 99 steep steps up, we were obviously reciting one name of Allah (swt) for every step but the complaints flooded in, especially later on when some of us got lost.
The climb, what can I say, it was definitely worse than climbing the 125 steps from the dining room to the boys room after dinner. The Hikmats among us probably enjoyed the climb as they were most likely trying to work out the gradient of the hill at every step. We saw cyclists fly past us and were amazed at how they were not only falling off the hill but actually climbing at full speed without breaking a sweat.
The walk was tough but it was not all that bad. Reaching the peak was one of the best feelings I have ever experienced. Our legs were exhausted but it was definitely worth it. The view from the top was immense, the satisfaction was unparalleled and feeling the air on your face, 1400ft up, was a completely unique experience. We had a chance to just stop for a moment and think and observe and marvel at where we were and what we had just achieved. It was something I will never forget.
We descended the hill (some more maturely than others) and got back to Malvern St James. We were grateful to Amir uncle for cancelling surgery 1. We rushed up the showers (lethargically of course, there were 4 fights of stairs to climb to get to the boys showers) and just basked under the water for an extra 20 minutes – bliss!
To end the day, we gathered in the namaaz room for a beautiful stirring and absolutely buzzing recitation of Dua- Kumayl by Sadiq Damani. The atmosphere captured exactly what the du’a is about and I am sure that the recitation touched all our souls. Then we slept to rest our bodies and ready our minds for the next day of revision.
Suhayl Kassam
GCSE student
Day 5 – The Last Day – Friday 16 April
I woke up to the sound of silence, a common thing for the one who wakes up at 6:30 on every day of the camp. However, today that silence lasted quite a bit longer. At 7:45, the time when everyone is usually munching, there wasn’t even a sound of muffled crunching. Truth be told it was the walk that killed everyone to a level without a talk.
Yep, everyone was tired because of yesterday’s trek up the mountain. Anyways, everyone woke up around 8:15 and so everyone got to eat. Afterwards we set out to our normal lessons beginning with Maths. Here Mrs Nasser managed to exploit every single one of our brain cells to the cause of 3D Trig. Now if that was not enough we were bombarded with a test on everything we had done in Chemistry and to add the cherry on top we had test in Biology too!
Physics was quite unusual thanks to Mr Amin’s newfound humour and sound effects, but hey it was a darn good lesson to be had.
Last but not least our second and last lesson with Ms Wyton, in my eyes a great ending to an epic day. A lesson full of tips and mnemonics to help us all to get that coveted A*.
All in all quite an amazing last day with quite a few heart warming and funny memories. Quote of the day would be “Oh, it’s my last lesson with you lot, I wish my school was like this, I am going to miss you all”.
Ali Alibhai
GCSE Student