ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on rethinking Islamic education in the modern world through an exposition of the stated principles and actual practice in Shakhsiyah schools as perceived by members of the school community. It begins by outlining important features of the schools' curricular and pedagogical innovations that arise from the Principles of Shakhsiyah Education. The chapter examines how members of the school community perceived the school ethos, in order to address the research question: how is school ethos understood, played out and practiced in a Muslim faith school community? It includes a qualitative analysis of the reflections of teachers, parents and seven- to 11-year-old children on how far the education provided by Shakhsiyah schools reflects their stated ethos. This analysis also affords the school leadership the ability to evaluate how effective they have been in disseminating this ethos to teachers, parents and children.
