Alumnae
Al-Ashraf Secondary School is extremely proud of its former pupils' achievements and have created this Alumnae page to share their achievements with the wider community.
Former pupils are encouraged to complete the form via the link below.
Alumnae Form
| Full Name: |
Henna Khan |
| Year completed school: |
2010 |
| Details of Further/Higher Education: |
BSc (Hons) Mathematics |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
University of the West of England |
| Current employment: |
Clinical data analyst |
| Full Name: |
Rizvana Ahmed |
| Year completed school: |
2000 |
| Details of Further/Higher Education: |
LLB Law (Hons), PgDip Legal Practice, MsC Psychology (present) |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
University of Wolverhampton, University of the West of England and University of Gloucestershire |
| Current employment: |
Up until Covid-19, I had been working as a Legal Consultant dealing with a range of queries and advising clients daily. Over time in this sector, I realised my skills to could be transferred over to follow my passion in Psychology. I am currently completing my Masters in Psychology, with a view to specialise in Clinical. I am very passionate about Mental Health especially in BAME communities, specifically relating to third generation immigrants. |
| Any other comments/School reflections: |
If I have one piece of advice that I could give current students, it’s to never waste a single day at the School. Utilise the knowledge of all learned teachers. You don’t always realise how useful that early knowledge is, until the time has gone. I wish all the students success in school and beyond. Dream it, Believe it and then conceive it. |
| Full Name: |
Khadija Kholwadia |
| Year completed school: |
2002 |
| Details of Further/Higher Education: |
Diploma Islamic Counselling (CPCAB accredited). Mental Health Awareness training |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
BA (Hons) Islamic Theology - Jamiatul Imam Muhammad Zakariyyah, A level English Language and Literature, A Level Urdu, BSc (Hons) Psychology - modular accreditation (Open University) |
| Current employment: |
Ministry of Justice - HMPPS Prison Chaplain. Experience in delivering faith based interventions using Islamic Theology to combat extremist ideology within the Prison sector. |
| Any other comments/School reflections: |
I feel forever indebted to my parents for choosing to send me to this private faith school. Alhamdolillah my time at the school nourished my iman, allowing me to grow spiritually. Through the Islamic teachings taught to us, a strong faith identity was built and embedded within me, which has proved invaluable especially when working in multi faith settings. The Islamic teachings that I was taught through school assemblies and Islamiat lessons remain with me until today and help to frame my outlook in life, even shaping the way I bring up my own children alhamdolillah. The school gave me the opportunity to persue my interest in Alimah studies and it is with the help of dedicated teachers at the school that I was able to progress and gain further qualifications in this field. One of the greatest advantages of being a student at the Islamic school is knowing that we will be included in the duas of those who taught us, thus allowing us to prosper even further both in this world and the next inshallah. |
| Full Name: |
Maryam Bham |
| Year completed school: |
2004 |
| Details of Further/Higher Education: |
BA Early Childhood Studies and Linguistics (Joint Hons) at University of the West of England. MA Islam in Contemporary Britain at Cardiff University (SHARE Scholarship). |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
University of the West of England and Cardiff University |
| Current employment: |
Currently doing a PGDE in Educational Leadership at Bath Spa University and working as a full-time Reception Teacher as part of the Teach First Leadership Development programme. |
| Any other comments/School reflections: |
Extremely grateful to the school for providing me with the academic and spiritual foundations that have allowed me to achieve in various fields to date. The school plays an integral part in the construct of identity and has allowed for the interplay of what it truly means to be a British Muslim citizen. |
| Full Name: |
Aisha Bham |
| Year completed school: |
2010 |
| Details of Further/Higher Education: |
BSc (Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry) at The Open University. Master of Arts in Teaching Studies (QTS) at the University of Birmingham |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
Royal Society of Chemistry ITT Scholarship |
| Current employment: |
Head of Chemistry/Teacher of Science 14-19 |
| Any other comments/School reflections: |
Grateful to have been able to study an integrated alimiyyah programme at the Islamic School alongside secular studies. Also extremely grateful for part-time employment opportunities across Al Madani Educational Trust post-16, which helped me get a strong foothold in education and gave me a head-start gaining working experience to reach my career goals in a relatively short space of time. |
| Full Name: |
Tahreem Qureshi |
| Year completed school: |
2010 |
| Details of Further/Higher Education: |
A Levels at Ribston Hall High School and Open University Law LLB - ongoing |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
|
| Current employment: |
Gloucester City Council |
| Any other comments/School reflections: |
Alhumduliah was very pleased that I had the opportunity to start my school journey here as the Islamic knowledge has stayed with me for life and the school provides a very good foundation for an Islamic and moral lifestyle. There was no force in anything and you were guided to the best of the school's ability. The secular side of Education was also of a very high standard. There will always be some issues in almost all schools regarding social aspects but it is not a negative and rather makes it a very realistic school to be at. |
| Full Name: |
Hawa Veshmia |
| Year completed school: |
2012 |
| Details of Further/Higher Education: |
Optometry degree with the University of the West of England |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
University of the West of England |
| Current employment: |
Optician |
| Full Name: |
Zainab Dhalech |
| Year completed school: |
2014 |
| Details of Further/Higher Education: |
BSC (Hons) Adult nursing |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
Completed one year at Ribston hall - A-levels Biology Psychology & Mathematics then did one year at Gloucester college to complete a 2 year L3 Health and Social Care diploma which allowed me to enrol onto Adult nursing at Cardiff University |
| Current employment: |
Newly graduated and currently completing my two year commitment in wales. I’m currently working in cardiology on a rotation programme through Cardiology, Cardiothoracic surgery and Coronary care in University Hospital wales. |
| Any other comments/School reflections: |
Alhamdulilah I’ve had bumps in the journey getting to where I am today but I am very grateful for the start that Islamic school was able to provide me! Jazakallah to all the staff for their efforts and guidance! |
| Full Name: |
Aisha Pandor |
| Year completed school: |
2014 |
| Details of Further/Higher Education: |
Winner of Gloucestershire’s Outstanding Apprentice of the Year award for Public Sector in 2015 |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
Business Admin apprenticeships undertaken through Gloucestershire College whilst working for Cheltenham Borough Homes (2014/15) and working for UK Parliament for Gloucester’s MP, Richard Graham (2015-18) |
| Current employment: |
Civil Servant at Home Office |
| Full Name: |
Mariam Ismail |
| Year completed school: |
2012 |
| Details of Further/Higher Education: |
A-Levels in English Literature & Psychology
Diploma in Education & Training
Aalimiyyah degree in Islamic Studies |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
Oxford Open Learning, Training Suite & Madrasah Ashraf-ul-Uloom |
| Current employment: |
Islamic Studies coordinator & teacher (secondary school) |
| Full Name: |
Shaakira Veshmia |
| Year completed school: |
2012 |
| Details of Further/Higher Education: |
Course in Islamic Theology |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
The Open University |
| Current employment: |
Teacher |
| Any other comments/School reflections: |
Being part of the school always felt like being part of a family |
| Full Name: |
Farheen Nanabawa |
| Year completed school: |
2012 |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
University of Gloucestershire |
| Current employment: |
Primary school teacher |
| Full Name: |
Faatimah Bham |
| Year completed school: |
2009 |
| Details of Further/Higher Education: |
BEng (Hons) Building Services Engineering |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
University of the West of England |
| Full Name: |
Huma Khan |
| Year completed school: |
2010 |
| Details of Further/Higher Education: |
BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
Oxford Brookes University |
| Current employment: |
Working as a Occupational Therapist |
| Full Name: |
Jamila Majeed |
| Year completed school: |
1999 |
| Details of Further/Higher Education: |
Graduate in Account and Financial Management hons degree |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
University of Gloucestershire |
| Current employment: |
Contract Analyst for geographical Berkshire |
| Any other comments/School reflections: |
My time at the school was the foundation of my life skills and knowledge which has affected all my decisions till date. I am forever grateful to have been given the opportunity to have studied at Islamic School. |
| Full Name: |
Aishah Kadodia |
| Year completed school: |
2012 |
| Details of Further/Higher Education: |
PGCE Primary Eduction 5-11 |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
The Open University and The University of Gloucestershire |
| Current employment: |
Full time Year 4 primary school teacher |
| Full Name: |
Mariam Atcha |
| Year completed school: |
2012 |
| Details of Further/Higher Education: |
Currently doing Masters at UWE in Advanced Practice |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
Oxford Brookes University |
| Current employment: |
I am currently a Staff Nurse working in a Minor injuries and A&E setting. |
| Any other comments/School reflections: |
I want to say a huge thank you and Jazakallah to all the teachers at Islamic School. I would not be where I am today without their efforts and duas. |
| Full Name: |
Zainab Choksi |
| Year completed school: |
2012 |
| Details of Further/Higher Education: |
PGCE |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
The Open University and UWE |
| Current employment: |
Mathematics Teacher |
| Full Name: |
Tanzia Hoque (née Shamim) |
| Year completed school: |
2003 |
| Details of Further/Higher Education: |
B.Sc. (Hons) Biomedical Science (2009) |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
University of the West of England |
| Current employment: |
Currently home maker looking after my two daughters, Alhamdulillah. |
| Full Name: |
Zaynab Hansrod |
| Year completed school: |
2010 |
| Details of Further/Higher Education: |
A-Levels in Biology, Psychology and Business Studies |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
4 year Apprenticeship programme through GE Aviation who sponsored a Leadership and Management degree which was taught by Coventry University. |
| Current employment: |
Home Maker (as it’s called now) and my hardest job yet, a mother, to a beautiful baby boy, Alhamdulillah! |
| Any other comments/School reflections: |
Alhamdulillah, I am very pleased that I got the opportunity to study at the school. I feel it has the right balance of Islamic and secular education which has enabled me to accomplish a great deal when I was working and Insha Allah will enable me to be successful in the future. After completing my A-Levels I was hired in an apprenticeship program with Ge Aviation in Cheltenham. After 3 years as an Apprentice I was offered a permanent position at the company as an Operations Team Leader. In this challenging role whilst being a muslim, hijab wearing young woman working in a male dominated industry, I felt happy to have achieved a leadership position within the company. It was in these times that I felt the Islamic education I had received from Al Ashraf and the Islamic ta'leem given to me by my parents was most useful. I was always conscious that for a lot of people, I was the 1st Muslim woman they would have encountered and that their opinion of me would impact the opinion they had on Islam. Using the knowledge and skills I gained at Al-Ashraf I made every effort to come across in an Islamic manner that would leave them with a positive and respectful opinion of Islam and hopefully change and get rid of any negative stereotypes they had developed through the media. I am now a mother and constantly reflect on my Islamic education to enable me to become a model Muslim mother for my son and to ensure he realises the importance of an Islamic education as well as a secular one. |
| Full Name: |
Bibi Fatimah Hansrod |
| Year completed school: |
2010 |
| Details of Further/Higher Education: |
A-Levels at Ribston Hall High School |
| University or Islamic Institute: |
Went on to complete a 4 year business apprenticeship at General Electric Aviation which included studying towards a degree in Leadership and Management (via Coventry University). |
| Current employment: |
Currently employed at Safran Landing Systems in a Quality Assurance role. |
| Any other comments/School reflections: |
I could not have asked for a better school to complete my secondary years' studies at. I feel truly blessed that we have access to a school such as Al-Ashraf and I had the good fortune to be able to attend there. It was as safe an environment for my deen as there could be. I would emphasise that this didn't come at a cost of my secular education. If anything, I always felt supported and encouraged to do better in all of my studies. My career post my education is a further testament to the school's ability to give you a good secular and religious education. The knowledge and experience I gained at the school and the values it instilled in me have stayed with me into my 20s and I still feel supported from my teachers there. The school will always remain dear to me and through Allah's mercy, my parents couldn't have made a better decision for my education. |
