UK families have more than one way to start Hifz, which means learning the Quran by heart. Some choose a full-time Hifz school. Some choose an evening or weekend madrasa class. Some choose online Hifz classes in the UK, live and 1-on-1, at home.
This guide compares the three in general terms. We do not name or rate any school or madrasa, because we cannot know them all. You get a table of what each path may suit and a list of things to check or ask. It gives no religious rulings, and it does not say how quickly any child will finish.
Which Is Better: a Hifz School or Online Hifz?
Neither is better for every child. A full-time Hifz school suits a family that wants Hifz to fill the school day. An evening or weekend madrasa class suits a child who also goes to an ordinary school. Live 1-on-1 online Hifz suits a family that wants a teacher at home, at a time that fits.
The right choice depends on your child's reading, your timetable and what is close to you. The rest of this guide helps you weigh those things.
The Three Paths in Plain Words
Here is what each path means in this guide:
- Full-time Hifz school: your child goes to a school where Hifz is the main work of the day. Some also teach school subjects, so ask how the day is split.
- Evening or weekend madrasa class: your child goes to an ordinary school, then to a Hifz class after school or at the weekend. Other children may be in the same class, so ask how the teacher shares the time.
- Live 1-on-1 online Hifz: your child recites to one teacher on a video call from home. Only one student is in each class.
Side by Side: Who Each Path May Suit and What to Check
No path is right for every family. This table gives general points to think about. It is not a ranking, and it does not describe any one school or madrasa:
| Path | It may suit | Check or ask |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time Hifz school | A family that wants Hifz to be the main work of the day. A child who is ready for a full school setting. | Is it registered, and who inspects it? Can you read the latest report? How is the day split between Hifz and school subjects? What are the fees and hours? Is it a day school, or does the child stay overnight? What checks do the adults have? How is revision planned? |
| Evening or weekend madrasa class | A child who goes to ordinary school and wants Hifz beside it. A family with a class close enough to reach every day. A child who likes learning with other children. | How long is the journey each week? What are the hours in exam weeks and holidays? How many children share one teacher? Is there a clear revision routine? What is the safeguarding policy, and how are the adults checked? What does it cost? |
| Live 1-on-1 online Hifz at home | A family with no Hifz teacher close by. A busy timetable that needs a flexible slot. A child who does well with a teacher's full attention. A parent who wants to sit in. | Does your child read the Quran well with Tajweed first? Is there a quiet space and a steady device? Can your child practise at home each day? How does the academy plan revision? Who are the teachers, and what checks do they pass? Can you try a class first? |
Questions to Ask Any Hifz Provider
Ask these of every school, madrasa or academy you look at, including us. The right-hand column shows our answers at Salam Campus, so you can compare:
| Ask | Why it matters | Salam Campus |
|---|---|---|
| How many students does one teacher hear at once? | More students means less time for each child to recite. | Every class is live and 1-on-1. One teacher hears one student. |
| How is revision planned? | New pages fade fast without revision. | Each class covers sabaq (the new lesson), sabqi (recent revision) and manzil (old revision). |
| What are the hours, and how long is the journey? | Hifz needs a steady daily habit, and long journeys wear a family down. | No journey. Classes run 24/7 and we set them in UK time, so you pick a slot. |
| Who are the adults, and what checks do they have? | A child's safety comes first. | Parents are welcome to join a class. Our safeguarding page lists what we do. |
| What does it cost in total? | Compare fees, travel and any extras for each path. | Our fees are in pounds. See the Quran learning fees page. |
| Can my child try a class first? | A trial shows how the teacher and child get on. | Yes. The 30-minute trial lesson is free. No card is needed. |
| Is my child ready for Hifz? | A mistake learned by heart is hard to undo. | The trial includes a reading check. If your child is not ready, we suggest reading first. |
What GOV.UK Says About Schools and Out-of-School Settings
We cannot tell you which UK school or madrasa is right. We do not know them, and we do not rate other providers. But two official pages can help you ask good questions. They describe England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules, so check your own government's website.
Here is what each page says, in short:
- Full-time schools: GOV.UK says private schools, also called independent schools, charge fees and do not have to follow the national curriculum. It says all private schools must be registered with the government and are inspected regularly. The body that inspects a school publishes its reports online, and the school can tell you which body that is. Ofsted inspects some of them. So ask a school if it counts as a private school, who inspects it, and read its latest report.
- Evening and weekend classes: the Department for Education has safeguarding guidance for out-of-school settings in England. It says the guidance applies to supplementary schools set up for religious purposes, and to private tuition. It covers health and safety, safeguarding and child protection, safe and suitable people, and governance. You can ask any madrasa how it handles these four things.
- Online lessons: the same questions apply. Ask the academy about safeguarding and about who teaches your child.
How Our Online Hifz Classes Work at Home
A Hifz class at Salam Campus is live and 1-on-1. You pick a male or a female teacher. It starts at 30 minutes, and parents may sit in. We teach 24/7 and set classes in UK time. A class can go before school, after school or at the weekend.
Every class follows a 3-part cycle. Our sabaq, sabqi and manzil guide covers each part in more detail:
- Sabaq: the new lesson. Your child gets it ready at home, then says it from memory to the teacher.
- Sabqi: recent revision of the last week or two, repeated until it is firm.
- Manzil: old revision, so that earlier pages stay strong.
What Your Child Needs Before Hifz Starts
Reading comes first, whichever path you choose. Your child should read the Quran smoothly, with Tajweed, before Hifz starts. Many children begin around age 7, but reading level counts for more than age.
Your child also needs time at home. For full Hifz, plan 1 to 2 hours of practice each day, in short blocks. Settle this before you pick a path, because every path needs it.
Want to know how the online route works in UK hours? See our page on online Hifz classes in the UK. Whichever path you choose, our free Hifz revision tracker gives you a weekly sheet for new pages and revision.
When a Hifz School or Madrasa May Fit Better
Online Hifz is not right for every child. A school or madrasa may fit better in these cases:
- Your child wants Hifz to be the main work of the day, and a full-time setting is within reach.
- Your child does well when other children are in the same room.
- There is a Hifz teacher near you whom you trust, and the hours fit your week.
- Your child finds it hard to focus on a screen.
Can You Mix Two Paths?
Some families do. A weekend madrasa class plus an online class on school days is one example. If you mix, tell both teachers which pages are new and which are revision. Then the two plans do not clash, and your child does not learn the same page twice.
Five Steps to Choose
Use these steps with any provider:
- Check your child's reading first. If it is not smooth yet, build reading before Hifz.
- Write down your week: the school run, homework and family time. Hifz needs a daily slot.
- Ask the questions in the table above of every provider you look at.
- Try before you join. Visit a class, or book a trial class online.
- Start small, and look again after a month. Is your child learning, revising and still willing?
Start With a Free Trial Class
Want to see how a live class feels? The free 30-minute trial shows your child's reading level, and the teacher suggests where to start. No card is needed. Book a free trial and tell us the UK times that suit you.