The National Muslim Teachers’ Awards 2026

Thank you for attending our prestigious gala awards evening as we honoured the exceptional achievements of Muslim teachers from across the UK.

Winners

Early Career Teacher of the Year

• 1st Place – Khadeejah Hussain (Apex Primary School)
• 2nd Place – Nadimur Rahman (Challney High School for Boys)             

Early Years Teacher of the Year

• 1st Place – Fatima Mamodo (The Olive School Hackney)       
• 2ns Place – Monsur Ahmed Khan (Milkyway Preschool Playgroup)

Primary Teacher of the Year

• 1st Place – Rashida Khanam (Old Ford Primary Academy) 
• 2nd Place – Essaid Elkerf (Apex Primary School)   
• 3rd Place – Uzma Aslam (Beechwood Primary School)    

Secondary Teacher of the Year

• 1st Place – Razziya Siddique (Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School for Girls)    
• 2nd Place – Wakib Ullah (Royal Greenwich Trust School)
• 3rd Place – Rubi Begum (Lantern of Knowledge School) 

Middle Leader of the Year

• 1st Place – Aysha Sharif (Aldersbrook Primary School)
• 2nd Place – Afshain Noreen (Lea Manor High School)    
• 3rd Place – Fateha Begum (Azhar Academy Girls School)

Senior Leader of the Year

• 1st Place – Samira Islam (Elmhurst Primary School)
• 2nd Place – Summaiyah Mukadam (The Olive School Hackney)
• Joint 3rd Place – Farzana Chowdhury (Brays School)  
• Joint 3rd Place – Zaheera Navlakhi Ahmed (Al-Noor Primary School)            

Sixth Form Teacher of the Year

• 1st Place – Shanaz Mughal (Copthall school) 
• 2nd Place – Tamoor Malik (Newham college)  
• 3rd Place – Adnan Ilahi (Mill Hill School)        

University Lecturer of the Year

• 1st Place – Dr. Aleeza Khan (University of Greater Manchester) 
• 2nd Place – Atif Jaleel (University of Roehampton)             
• 3rd Place – Marwan Elfallah (University of East London)

Headteacher of the Year

• 1st Place – Thahmina Begum (Haggerston School)
• 2nd Place – Rajia Mukit (Edullect Academy Independent School)            
• 3rd Place – Rookshana Adam (Azhar Academy Girls School)  

Executive Leader of the Year

• 1st Place – Sufian Sadiq (Chiltern Learning Trust)
• 2nd Place – Gulbanu Kader (School Improvement Service Ltd)          
• Joint 3rd Place – Omar Deria (The Excelsior Academy)             
• Joint 3rd Place – Zaitoon Bukhari (Achievement through Collaboration Trust)        

CEO of the Year

• 1st Place – Sir Mufti Hamid Patel (Star Academies)
• 2nd Place – Shah Sher Ali (Edullect Academy Independent School)            

Supplementary School Teacher of the Year

• 1st Place – Dr. Israfil Demirhan (ICMG Edmonton)           

Judges

• Dr. Abdullah Sahin (Reader in Islamic Education, University of Warwick)
• Dame Anna Hasan DBE (Educational Consultant & Former Executive Headteacher)
• Bushra Nasir CBE DL (Educational Consultant & Former Chief Executive Officer)
• Dr. Mahera Ruby (Researcher & Academic; The Open University)
• Rukhsana Yaqoob MBE (Educational Consultant & Director of UK Muslim Network)
• Prof. Jacek Brant (Professor of Education, UCL Institute of Education)
• Dr. Musharraf Hussain OBE DL (Author & Chief Executive Officer of the Karimia institute)

Keynote Speakers

• Sir Mufti Hamid Patel (CEO, Star Academies)
• Ashfaque Chowdhury (Chair, Association of Muslim Schools UK)
• ⁠Mona Mohammed (Vice-Chair, Association of Muslim Schools UK)
• ⁠Someera Butt (Headteacher, Al-Noor Primary School)
• Julie Robinson (CEO, İndependent Schools Council)
• Dame Alison Peacock (CEO, Chartered College of Teachers)
• ⁠Shafique Zaman (Deputy CEO, Community Schools Trust)