In 1992 the Muslim community of Perth had, according to the 1991 census, enough school age children across the metro area of Perth to support several primary and secondary Islamic schools. At that time there was only one Islamic school operating in Perth out of one campus in Thornlie. After careful assessment of all relevant factors, in late 1992 a decision was made by the Founding Group to, Insha’Allah, start a second Islamic School in Perth.
By the middle of 1993, the necessary legal entity had been registered and approaches were made to the Education Department to see what suitable school premises may be coming available under the then Government’s School Rationalisation Program. Nothing at that time was immediately available with nothing promising on the short-term horizon. However, the determination was to start operating in 1994, even if it meant temporarily using suitable alternative commercial premises as suggested by the Education Department.
Late in 1993 it became known that the former Bentley Junior Primary School site had become surplus to requirements, and was sitting vacant. The Education Department was approached to ask why this facility had not been mentioned and if it could be available. The response was that the site was to be sectioned off and made a separate stand-alone lot from the Bentley Primary School and then sold at public auction to become possibly a residential complex for the elderly. However, as it would take several years to separate the lot and make it ready it for auction, it could be made available temporarily if there was no objection from the Bentley Primary School next door.
The Education Department was very helpful in overcoming some initial reservations from the Bentley Primary School and, through the Grace and Mercy of Allah, Glory is to Him the Most High, the Al-Hidayah Islamic School started operating in the former Bentley Junior Primary School site in January 1994.
Thirty one uninterrupted years later, with thousands of students having now passed through the School, with the focus still as always being very much on delivering Government Curriculum education to the highest possible standards and, above all, delivering a structured Islamic Studies Curriculum using the best available resources to the highest possible standards, while being ever mindful of the fundamental ethos of the School, which is that: The Islamic Nature of the School must take precedence over all other considerations.