About Us

Our Mission

A lifelong love of Arabic — and a lasting connection to who they are

Iqra Arabic Language School exists to spark a genuine, lifelong passion for Arabic in young people aged 4 to 16. We give students a nurturing place to learn to read, write, speak and listen — the four skills that make a language truly theirs — through immersive, engaging teaching. More than that, we help them connect their learning to their faith, heritage and identity, so Arabic becomes something to be proud of. Our lessons pair the joy of play with the structure of proper teaching, and they’re delivered by native speakers who bring the richness and authenticity of the language into every class.

OUR VISION

Arabic that connects them directly to their faith

Our vision is for every child to reach a level of Arabic where they can understand the Qur’an and connect with their faith on their own — without needing anyone to translate it for them. That connection is at the heart of everything we do.

We bring the language to life through its culture, using poetry, song and activities that make Arabic something children feel, not just study. And we teach it the way it’s best learned: through immersion. In our classrooms, only Arabic is spoken. Our teachers are trained to use formal Arabic throughout, so children grow used to hearing it and using it naturally, until it becomes second nature.

We also know that no two children learn the same way. At Iqra, we meet each child where they are and help them reach their full potential — on their own terms, at their own pace.

Dr. Fadoua Govaerts

Head of Teaching and Learning

Iqra Arabic Language School was founded by Dr Fadoua Govaerts, who holds a PhD in Education and lectures at the University of Bath. With over 20 years in education, she specialises in alternative education and is the author of several research papers and books in the field.

Fadoua has set up a number of supplementary schools, and trains native Arabic speakers to become teachers in that setting — bridging deep subject knowledge with the practical craft of the classroom. That combination shapes everything at Iqra: a curriculum grounded in real research, delivered by well-trained native speakers, and built around how children genuinely learn.

It’s this blend of academic expertise and hands-on experience that gives Iqra its foundation — a school where students grow both academically and personally, and begin a lifelong relationship with the Arabic language and its culture.