Online Quran Classes UK: Fitting Lessons Around UK School Hours (GMT/BST)

Online Quran classes suit UK families well: Cairo is only one or two hours ahead of the UK, so after-school and weekend classes fall at normal hours for the teacher too. This guide shows how to fit one-to-one lessons around the UK school day, half-terms and the clock changes, and what they cost.

The Time Difference: Only One or Two Hours

For most of the year Cairo is 2 hours ahead of the UK. From late March to late April, when the UK has moved to British Summer Time (BST) but Egypt has not yet changed its clocks, the gap is 1 hour. Classes run 24/7, so any slot is possible; these are the most popular:

Fitting Classes Around the UK School Day

Most UK primary schools finish around 3:00 to 3:30 PM, and secondary schools a little later. Many children also attend evening madrasa, sports or tuition. Short 30-minute online lessons fit between these without a journey. Common weekly patterns are:

1. Two classes a week (8 a month, $40): for example Tuesday and Thursday at 4:30 PM. Good for beginners and for children with busy evenings.
2. Four classes a week (16 a month, $80): Monday to Thursday at 6:30 PM. Good for Hifz students and for faster Tajweed progress.
3. One weekday plus one weekend class: Wednesday evening and Saturday morning, a balance many families like.

Half-Terms, Holidays and Ramadan

UK school holidays are a good chance to strengthen revision, because children are rested and have more free time. Many families keep their normal weekly slots through half-term and the summer holidays so that progress does not stop. During Ramadan, a class shortly after Fajr at the weekend, or between Asr and Maghrib, can work well; choose a time that suits the fasting and prayer routine at home.

When the Clocks Change

The UK changes its clocks on the last Sunday of March and the last Sunday of October. Egypt also uses summer time, but starts it later, at the end of April. In practice, check your class time with your teacher in the spring weeks when the gap is 1 hour instead of 2. Agreeing times in UK time avoids confusion.

A Sample Plan for One School Term

Here is how a UK autumn term could look for a 9-year-old who can already read slowly and wants to improve Tajweed, on 8 classes a month:

• September: assessment, then correcting letter pronunciation, especially throat letters and heavy letters.
• October: the rules of noon sakinah and tanween, practised on short surahs from Juz Amma. Keep classes going through October half-term for revision.
• November: meem sakinah and madd, with a short recitation to parents at home each week.
• December: review of the term, the monthly progress report, and the plan for the spring term.

Tips for UK Parents

• Book a slot you can keep all term. The same two times every week work better than changing slots.
• Set up the device before class: charged tablet or laptop, headphones with a microphone, and the Mushaf or course book open.
• Ten minutes a day: short daily practice between classes makes each lesson more productive.
• Check the time in late March: when the UK moves to BST, the gap with Cairo becomes 1 hour until late April.
• Read the monthly report together with your child and celebrate each stage completed.

Online Lessons or the Local Madrasa?

Many UK children attend an evening mosque madrasa, often in groups. Online one-to-one classes can sit alongside it or replace it, depending on the family. The main difference is reading time: in a one-to-one lesson the child reads for most of the 30 minutes and is corrected straight away. Parents also receive a monthly progress report.

Female Teachers for Sisters and Girls

Female teachers are available for girls and women. The sisters memorization course is taught by female teachers only, for female students. See our women’s program and the sisters memorization course.

Prices for UK Families

• $5 per 30-minute one-to-one class.
• $40 a month for 8 classes, or $80 a month for 16 classes.
• 20% off annual plans, and a 10% family discount.
• Ijazah in Hafs from Asim: $100, paid once.
• A free trial class with no payment.

Prices are in US dollars. You can pay by PayPal, Visa, Mastercard or bank transfer; your bank or card may show the amount in pounds after conversion.

What Your Child Can Learn

• Reading from the start: the Noor Al-Bayan course, for children from 6 years old and for adults.
• Tajweed: the recitation and Tajweed course.
• Memorization: structured Hifz classes with regular revision.
• Arabic: Arabic for kids and Arabic for non-native adults.
• Ijazah and the Ten Qiraat for advanced students.

Who Teaches

All teachers are certified from Al-Azhar University, and all hold an Ijazah with a connected Sanad. Classes are taught in English, Arabic and French. Elbayan Academy is an independent online academy based in Cairo.

Explore our online Quran classes for kids and Quran classes for adults.

More for UK families: online Quran teacher or mosque madrasa? and female Quran teacher online in the UK.

Preparing for exams? See our GCSE Arabic term-by-term study plan.

Living in Ireland? Read online Quran classes in Ireland.

Start with a Free Trial Class

Elbayan Academy teaches one-to-one, 30-minute online classes with certified teachers from Al-Azhar University, each holding an Ijazah with a connected Sanad. Female teachers are available, classes run 24/7, and you receive a monthly progress report. Plans are $40 a month for 8 classes or $80 for 16. Book a free trial class on WhatsApp.

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