TOLERANCE and understanding are words which Samira El Turabi uses frequently.
As head teacher of the Islamia Girls' High School in Thornton Lodge she is keen to dispel any myths and misconceptions which people may have about this single-sex independent Muslim day school.
"We want the students to have a wide-ranging knowledge, not just learn about Islam," said Mrs El Turabi, who has been head teacher at the school since 2002.
"I cannot be a good Muslim myself if I do not promote religious tolerance.
"Our students need to be good citizens and how they use their religion and treat other people is all part of that."
The school in Thornton Lodge Road, is the only type of its kind in Huddersfield and currently has 20 pupils aged 11 to 16. They are mainly from the Huddersfield area although some travel from Oldham and Bradford to attend.
Girls follow the National Curriculum which is enriched with Islamic studies, Arabic, Urdu and modern foreign languages.
It is a successful combination.
In last year's national league tables the school was the third best in Kirklees with 71% of students getting at least five good GCSEs (grade A to C).
And in its most recent Ofsted inspection in April this year the school was praised for providing a secure and thoughtful spiritual environment in which pupils can learn and make progress.
Teaching standards were described as "very good" and the report noted that the school's headteacher, staff and governors had created a happy, caring community based on mutual respect and outstanding commitment to good quality teaching.
Mrs El Turabi is full of praise for her committed staff team of nine, eight women and one man.
She sees her school as a role model for similar schools in the area and is keen to promote links within the community. She is thankful for the strong relationship which it has with Huddersfield Technical College.
Messages of support from the immediate and wider community ensured the school was able to move positively forward following the London terrorist attacks.
Mrs El Turabi, a mother-of-five children (four sons and a daughter) she describes herself as "a knowledge seeker".
She was born and brought up in the United Arab Emirates and came to Britain with her husband.
Mrs El Turabi has been teaching part-time since 1982. She joined Islamia Girls four years ago.
Her ideas have sometimes been considered too radical for the community in which the school is situated.
But she does firmly believe in single-sex education and says the parents of the girls at the school chose it because there were "less distractions" from boys rather than for religious reasons.
All the girls go on to sixth form colleges in Huddersfield and they are thoroughly prepared to ensure it is a smooth transition from a small single-sex school to a larger co-educational institution.
The school's curriculum statement accurately describes its philosophy.
It "aims to provide the girls with traditional Islamic values, while preparing them for an exciting future", enabling them to become "confident, caring, well-educated young women, proud to be Muslims."
