Lantern Academy named Best Madrassah in the UK for third year running

Mohammed Shahid, head of Lantern Academy

Rochdale’s Lantern Academy has won the Best Madrassah for the third year running.

Lantern Academy is a branch of the Golden Mosque which was founded in 1963 as the first mosque in Rochdale.

Based on Lower Sheriff Street, the academy is a supplementary school that teaches over 300 students from across the borough of Rochdale from primary to GCSE level in Quran recitation, Islamic studies, maths, English and much more.

Lantern won the award at the British Beacon Mosque Awards 2022, held in London, on Saturday 26 November. 

The local madrassah was shortlisted along with Al-Hayat Centre, Southampton; Al-Madani Masjid, Slough; Al-Rahma Mosque, Liverpool and Bayt Al Qaim Islamic Centre, Bradford.

Lantern Academy caters for over 400 students from Monday to Saturdays with character building activities, national and international trips, GCSE, high school and primary school tuition classes, Islamic studies and Arabic classes too.

Over school holidays they carry out a variety of retreats for children as well as suitable workshop for teenagers.

Mohammed Shahid, head of Lantern, who has been in position for 13 years, said: “I am proud of Lantern Academy; it’s an honour to win once again.

“Three years is a row is such a huge achievement, the awards evening was a great opportunity to meet other professionals.

“I had mixed emotions, from tearing up, to surprised and nervous. I would never have thought we’d win again. This award is dedicated to my hard-working team who have made Lantern the academy it is today, not forgetting our students who complete the family.

“Without our students we would not be where we are, their enthusiasm, hard work and dedication is the reason Lantern is an award-winning academy.”