Landmark Case Of Illegal Southall 'School'

Al-Istiqamah Learning Centre likely to be shut down after prosecution

Thor House. Picture: Google Streetview

Two people have been prosecuted in the first case of its kind for running an unregistered school in Southall.

Westminster Magistrates Court heard that the Al-Istiqamah Learning Centre which ran from Thor House on the Uxbridge Road had been teaching 50 children from 5-11 illegally.

Ofsted inspectors had tried to visit on several occasions and the court heard evidence that at least 27 pupils were at the school for 25 hours per week and others more than 18 hours despite claims that the centre was only for additional help and support.

The chief magistrate of England and Wales, Emma Arbuthnot, said the evidence showed the centre was "being operated as an unregistered independent educational institution providing full-time education".

Nacerdine Talbi and Beatrix Bernhard were convicted on Wednesday (October 24) after a three-day trial. The defendants have been given a community order of a 12-week night time curfew and the court heard that the school would be likely to be closed temporarily. The institution itself, of which Mr Talbi was the director, was fined £100.

Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman said: "We hope that today's judgment sends out a message to all those running such schools that they will face justice.

"We will continue to investigate and expose illegal, unregistered schools and where we find them, play our part in making sure they are closed or become properly registered."

October 24th 2018