News and Articles

  • Review of the Educational Achievement of Muslim Pupils on 23rd June 2012

    June 2012

    You are cordially invited to play your part in fighting the curse of underachievement by the Pakistani origin pupils in High Wycombe by attending the seminar to review the Educational Achievement of Muslim Pupils, on Saturday, 23 June 2012, at Cressex School, at 9.45 AM for a 10 AM start.

     

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  • BME Parents Conference on 10th December 2011 at the Cressex Community School, 1PM - 4PM.

    Nov 2011

    With great pleasure the Muslim Parents Association and the Parents Forum for Children of African & Caribbean Heritage invite you to participate in our joint BME Parents Conference on 10th December 2011 at the Cressex Community School starting at 1PM.

     

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  • MPA Meeting focussing on Motivation and Role Models is taking place on Sunday, 9 October 2011 at Cressex Community School at 10.45AM for a 11AM start

    Oct 2011

    You are cordially invited to play your part in fighting the curse of underachievement by the Pakistani origin pupils in High Wycombe.

     

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  • Wycombe Community Day at the Rye - Saturday 2nd July 2011

    May 2011

    It is with great pleasure that the Wycombe African Caribbean Community Forum invite you to share your time with the wider community on 2nd July on the Rye from 12 - 6pm.

     

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  • News from Wycombe and Westminster by Steve Baker MP

    March 2011

    I am most grateful to the Muslim Parents’ Association for the opportunity to bring you up-to-date on some of the things I have been doing in the constituency and in parliament.

    I was privileged to re-open the renovated birthing centre at Wycombe hospital. This is midwife-led and has amenities comparable with those found in private maternity units.  I urge local mothers-to-be who expect a trouble free birth to seriously consider using this facility. 

     

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  • MBE awarded to Chauhdry Shafique

    March 2011

    Hearty congratulations to MPA vice chairman Chauhdry Shafique, who is delighted to have been awarded the MBE in the new year’s honours list. His work for community cohesion has been recognised and he has had the honour of personally collecting the gong from the Queen.   

     

  • Update at Cressex Community School by David Hood, Headteacher

    March 2011

    Students and staff at Cressex Community School are continuing to settle into their splendid new surroundings and enjoy the opportunities they present.

    In addition to working hard in lessons, students are also benefiting from chances to work with a range of groups and agencies. For the second year running, the school is taking part in the “Driving Inspiration” project, which is focused on the Paralympic Games.

     

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  • Searching for School Governors

    November 2010

    Thinking of becoming a School Governor?

     

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  • Role Models at Highcrest Community College

    November 2010

    Your help is needed to find ex pupils who are willing to visit Highcrest Community School (previously Known as Hatters Lane) and help inspire current pupils and raise aspirations.  We are aware that many ex pupils have gone on to build successful and rewarding lives and we would like to give them the opportunity to share their experiences with the young people at the school.

     

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  • Practical tips for a fine Haj by Asma Bint Shameem

    November 2010

    Haj is the `ultimate' journey, the journey of a lifetime. Yet I've seen so many people, brothers and sisters, confused, angry, frustrated or just simply ignorant during Haj. So here is a piece of sincere advice for all of my brothers and sisters going for Haj this year.

     

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  • Mosque students have a wonderful time visiting the Science Museum in London By Riaz Ahmed

    October 2010

    The MPA is proud to assist with English classes at the Totteridge Road Mosque of the Wycombe Islamic Mission. A Science Museum trip, initiated by class teacher Riaz Ahmed and headed by Imam Sultan Mahmood, took about 90 students and 9 adults to London on the sunny Sunday morning of 27 June 2010.

     

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  • The Creative Arts go from Strength to Strength at Sir William Ramsay!
     

    October 2010

    Over the course of the last academic year the creative arts departments at Sir William Ramsay have been involved in some exciting and innovative projects both in and around the school site and also involving the wider community.

     

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  • The Royal Grammar School organises Proud of My Roots Event By Lucy Sowah

    October 2010

    During the first week of October the hallways of RGS were filled with students proudly wearing traditional clothing, national costumes and sporting colours. The rhythm of drums, the aroma of Asian foods and conversation in many languages flowed through the corridors.

     

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  • THE COUNCIL FOR CHRISTIAN MUSLIM RELATIONS HOLDS A SEMINAR IN HIGH WYCOMBE - By Chaudhry M Shafique (Chairman CCMR)
     

    October 2010

    The Council For Christian Muslim Relations hosted a topical seminar on the 15th of September 2010 at Bucks New University. The main theme on this occasion was to explore whether 'Islam Needs PR' given that in the post- 9/11 and 7/7 atmosphere a certain amount of negativity towards Muslims and Islam seems to have taken root amongst non-Muslim people everywhere including Great Britain.

     

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  • Useful tips for the first part of the Hajj
     

    October 2010

    Hajj this year will take place in the Middle of November and many people from High Wycombe will shortly be flying out, some for the first time. Here a sister gives some useful tips for the first part of the Hajj. May the pilgrims travel in safety and enjoy the experience of a lifetime.

     

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  • Making Connections
     

    October 2010

    ‘Making Connections’ is an intergenerational oral history project run by Wycombe Museum and funded through ‘Wycombe One Community’. There is a management committee for the project on which John Bajina and Rafiq Raja of MPA sit. The aim of the project has been to bring together young people aged 14-19 with older residents of Wycombe, to record oral memories.

     

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  • Buckinghamshire Young Person of the Year Awards by Aneesa Hussain
     

    October 12, 2010

    Sixth Form students from Holmer Green Senior School were proud to organise, manage and present the Buckinghamshire Young Person of the Year Awards at Pinewood Studios on Tuesday 12th October 2010.

     

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  • Here is how Children’s Centres can support parents of young children
     

    July 2010

    Children’s Centres are here to support all families with children under the age of five. In discussion with partners, evidence suggests that many Pakistani children, in High Wycombe, begin school at 3 years of age needing to develop their communication and language skills and with little or no experience in pre-school groups.

     

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  • Steve Baker, Wycombe’s new  MP gives his first term’s report

    October 2010

    There are many challenges facing the country at the moment, and the coalition government is taking many hard decisions to cope with the legacy we have inherited. The most significant challenge ahead is the need to put the public finances on a sustainable footing. This must be done in a way which is both responsible and fair.

     

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  • Highcrest Community School raises £216.00 for Pakistan Flood Relief

    Octiober 2010

    On Thursday the 9th September the students at Highcrest Community School raised £216.00 by creating structures with silver and copper coins.

     

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  • Cressex on the Move by David Hood, Headteacher - New Buiding!

    Octiober 2010

    Cressex Community School has had much to celebrate over the summer of 2010. Firstly, and most importantly, our young people have achieved the best set of results in the history of the school so far. Approximately 37% of them achieved 5 good passes at GCSE including English and Maths, with over 50% gaining 5 A*-C grades in any subject.  This is certainly a step change.

     

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  • The Karima Foundation in partnership with Cressex Community School

    July 2010

    The MPA has been exploring ways and means of reducing the educational achievement gap which exists between the Pakistani origin and mainstream children in Bucks and we welcome the success of the Karima Supplementary School – Year 11 GCSE Intervention Project.

     

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  • Academies – Opportunity or Threat

    July 2010

    As you may have heard in the press, the Academies bill is moving through the Houses of parliament. This will allow your child’s school to become independent from the local authority. If your child’s school has been rated as “outstanding” by OFSTED, then this can happen virtually automatically. Schools not in that category will still require a sponsor.

     

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  • Mike Jones, Holmer Green Senior School Head, gives an update

    July 2010

    At Holmer Green Senior School we are enjoying huge success with examination results at 70% at GCSE and a Sixth Form that has doubled in size over the past three years.  We set our expectations sky high, “Achievement and Opportunity for all”, and believe every single one of our children can attain good GCSE results.

     

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  • Highcrest hosts the Sixth Form Conference “The Changing Face of Britain”

    July 2010

    On Wednesday 24th March 2010, Highcrest Community School held the first Sixth Form Conference in the Wycombe area on “The Changing Face of Britain”.

    Miss Moynihan opened the conference and welcomed the guests and sixth form students from Wycombe High School.  Ruth Gunstone, Director of Student Experience, Buckinghamshire New University then started the education debate.

     

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  • A View of Ramadan by Rafiq Raja

    July 2010

    It all starts before dawn when everyone in the family gets up to eat.  This meal ends at twilight and signifies the beginning of the fast each day.  It has a huge impact, especially for families where both parents work.  The sense of togetherness throughout Ramadan is a wonderful experience.

     

     

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  • Linda Lewins, METAS Manager, has issued a helpful letter about Ramadan to Colleagues

    July 2010

    Ramadan is the holiest month of the Islamic calendar and as such the end is marked by a celebration Eid Ul Fitr. Many schools find it helpful to avoid the month of Ramadan when planning parents’ evenings, trips, open days etc., as Muslims will almost certainly not attend such functions at this time.

     

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  • Cressex School on the move - end of an era

    July 2010

    On Friday July 16, students at the Cressex school said goodbye to their old school for the last time. When they go back to school after their summer holiday, they will be returning to their brand new building....

     

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  • Foster a Black or Minority Ethnic child

    April 2010

    Every year over 58,000 children are 'looked after' in foster care, and over 10,000 of these are from Asian, Black and Ethnic Minority communities. Social Services face a shortage of foster carers, but there is an even greater shortage in finding appropriate families for children from these backgrounds.

     

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  • Life after work – reflections from the” third age”

    April 2010

    A Cressex School Governor gives us a few glimpses of life after the world of work. In May 2006, at the age of 57 and after 36 years in the world of paid work, I found myself with time on my hands. I have friends and acquaintances who have virtually had to be dragged from their workplace at statutory retirement age, frightened by the perceived abyss of time left when that working week disappears. In truth, my job had become pretty all-consuming and it was clear that I could not continue at the same pace for much longer.

     

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  • Message from Sharon Cromie, the head of Wycombe High School

    April 2010

    As Headteacher of Wycombe High School, I am pleased to note the value and pride the MPA place on education. I take enormous pride in the achievements of all the students at Wycombe High School - the range and extent of their talents is very humbling. They attain at a high level academically and contribute to a wide range of extra curricular activities...

     

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  • INDEPENDENT CCTV LAY VISITOR PANEL

    April 2010

    The Wycombe District CCTV Lay Visitor Panel is seeking to recruit additional members to help it to discharge its obligations as a CCTV public scrutiny body, in accordance with the aims...

     

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  • Exam Tips

    April 2010

    Some of our school pupils will shortly be sitting GCSE & A Levels. There is no substitute for hard work and proper planning. There is still time to get help from your teachers on a point you have not quite understood. A few extra marks can take you from a D to a C grade; therefore a little sacrifice of your time now can pay dividends indeed.

     

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  • Cressex Community School becomes a Co-operative Learning Trust

    April 2010

    Hearty Congratulations to Governors, staff, parents and children of Cressex Community School for having become the Cressex Co-operative Learning Trust, a first in Buckinghamshire.

     

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  • First English class in Totteridge gets under way

    April 2010

    The MPA has tried to engage the Pakistani origin parents to show more interest in the education of their children but for the message to be more effective it was necessary to equip parents with the right tools.

     

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  • Some sage advice for parents by David Hood, Headteacher

    May 2009

    As part of MPA’s drive to involve more and more parents, a Governor Recruitment Event was organised at the end of April 2009, at Cressex Community School. David Hood, Headteacher of Cressex spoke at the meeting about how important it is for parents to invest time and effort to help their children achieve well at school.

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  • By Durdana Ansari – Ethnic Minority Foundation, Project Director

    December 2009

    EMF established its first Muslim Women’s Project in 2006.  The project was established in response to European Social Fund’s programme called Equal.  The Equal Programme required to prove the hypothesis that a community organisation was much better placed to deliver services cost effectively...

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  • Education and Business partnership By Mohammed Hanif  (MPA Exec Committee)

    December 2009

    Young people leaving school, college or university are faced with challenges and choices that are, in many ways, very different from those faced by previous generations. More than ever, learners need to be fully equipped with the skills, understanding, confidence and creativity needed for their future working lives.

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  • Neigbourhood Watch

    December 2009

    With Christmas and New Year being a rather dead time for those not celebrating, perhaps you may be going away to see friends or relatives or leaving the country. A burglar would see this as a perfect opportunity to enter your property and take your personal belongings.

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  • CONFERENCE PRESS RELEASE Council Pledge to Muslim Parents

    October 28, 2009

    At a conference organised by the High Wycombe Muslim Parents Association, held at Green Street Community centre on October 28 and attended by a hundred delegates...

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  • Help your child do well by Dr Katy Simmons, Chairman of Governors at Cressex School

    March 30, 2009

    If you have children who are pupils at a secondary school, you are likely to find life at home a bit stressful over the next few weeks, as your children prepare for exams. The results of those exams, especially for pupils in year 11, who are taking their GCSEs, could have a very big effect on the rest of their lives. How can you help your child do as well as possible?

     

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  • A Look Back at 2009

    December 2009

    At the end of April the MPA held a very successful Governor Recruitment event at Cressex School, in collaboration with the County Council’s Governor Recruitment Department and we were pleasantly surprised when over a dozen people applied to become School governors.

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  • Why Muslims are underacheiving.

    March 23, 2009

    Every Muslim should read this article.  I hope you will join me in discussing it with friends and at the masjid this Ramadan; join me in forwarding it to your loved ones throughout the world; in printing copies to share with your wives; and in reading it out loud to our children.

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