Below: how 30-minute lessons slot into a South Yorkshire school week, how they compare with a local evening madrasa, what remote Hifz looks like, and what each plan costs.
Sheffield in numbers: why demand for Quran teaching keeps growing
Sheffield has a large and growing Muslim community. According to the Office for National Statistics, 10.3% of Sheffield residents described themselves as Muslim in Census 2021, up from 7.7% in 2011; Sheffield City Council’s own Census 2021 topic summary reports the same figures. That is tens of thousands of households, many of them with children learning to read the Quran for the first time.
More families means more pressure on existing classes, some of which have waiting lists or fixed start dates. Online lessons do not replace that community provision, but they add capacity that is not limited by room size or a single timetable.
Fitting a lesson into the Sheffield school day
Most primary pupils in Sheffield finish somewhere around mid-afternoon, and secondary pupils a little later. A 30-minute lesson is short enough to sit between getting home and tea, or after homework, without taking over the evening. Popular patterns we see with South Yorkshire families include:
- Straight after school: a lesson at around 4.30pm, while the child is still in “learning mode” and before screens or clubs take over.
- After tea: a 6pm or 7pm slot for children who need a break first, or for families where a parent works until five.
- Before school: morning slots suit early risers and Hifz students who revise most easily when the mind is fresh.
- Weekends only: the weekend plan gives eight lessons a month on Saturdays and Sundays for children whose weekdays are already full.
All timings are set in UK time. When the clocks go back on the last Sunday in October and forward on the last Sunday in March, your lesson time stays the same on your clock, so there is nothing to recalculate.
Dark evenings and the walk to class
In December the sun sets in Sheffield before 4pm, and many of the city’s residential streets are steep. For parents who would otherwise walk or drive young children to an evening class in the dark and wet, a lesson at the kitchen table is a practical relief. In the coming few years Ramadan also falls in the winter months, so early iftar times can clash with a fixed evening class; a 1-to-1 slot can be moved to suit.
Term dates in Sheffield: what to check before you choose a schedule
Sheffield City Council publishes term and holiday dates for its community and voluntary-controlled schools. Many Sheffield schools are academies, which are allowed to set their own dates, so it is worth checking your child’s school website as well as the council page. We do not list dates here because they change each year and vary by school.
Once you have the dates, you have two choices. Some families keep lessons going through half-term, when children are more relaxed and progress can jump. Others prefer to pause or switch to morning slots during the holidays. Because there is no contract and you pay monthly, either approach works. Families on the Rotherham, Barnsley or Derbyshire side of the city should check their own council’s dates, which may differ from Sheffield’s.
Evening madrasa or 1-to-1 online: an honest comparison
Many Sheffield children attend a madrasa at a local masjid, often for an hour or two on weekday evenings. That model has real strengths: children see friends, learn adab in a community setting and build a connection with their local masjid. We would never tell a family to give that up if it is working.
Where online lessons differ is in attention and pace. In a shared class, one teacher listens to many children in turn, so each child may only read aloud for a few minutes. In a 1-to-1 lesson, your child reads for most of the 30 minutes and every mistake is heard and corrected straight away.
| Factor | Typical evening madrasa | Learn Quran UK online |
|---|---|---|
| Who reads to the teacher | Many pupils take turns | Only your child, for the whole lesson |
| Session length | Often 1–2 hours | 30 minutes, focused |
| Travel | Drop-off and pick-up needed | None, lessons happen at home |
| Parent visibility | Varies by setting | Parents may sit in, and every lesson is recorded |
| Community and friendships | A clear strength | Limited, as lessons are individual |
| Missed sessions | Usually lost | Reschedule with at least 1 hour’s notice |
Some families combine both: the madrasa for community, online lessons for Tajweed correction or Hifz revision. For a fuller discussion, read our guide to online Quran classes vs madrasa.
Hifz classes for Sheffield students
Memorising the Quran needs daily, individual listening, which is exactly what 1-to-1 teaching provides. Our online Hifz programme uses a steady routine of new lessons, recent revision and older revision, with the tutor tracking each page. Most Hifz students choose the 5-days-a-week plan so that revision never slips for long.
For a Sheffield child who is already doing Hifz elsewhere, our tutors can work alongside that: some families use online sessions purely to keep a manzil strong through exam season or the summer holidays. Adults returning to memorisation, including university students at the University of Sheffield or Sheffield Hallam, can book early-morning or late-evening slots around lectures.
Courses available to Sheffield learners
- Noorani Qaida for complete beginners, typically children from age 4 and adults starting from scratch.
- Quran reading, building fluency from short surahs to longer passages.
- Tajweed lessons for correct pronunciation and the rules of recitation.
- Hifz (memorisation), full or partial.
- Islamic Studies covering salah, duas and everyday basics.
A short placement test means nobody starts again at page one unnecessarily. If your child has already worked through Iqra or Yassarnal Quran at a Sheffield madrasa, the tutor continues from where they are. Parents of younger children can read more on our online Quran classes for kids page, and grown-ups starting late can see Quran classes for adults.
Who teaches, and how lessons are kept safe
Every tutor is a degree-holding teacher with Ijazah and is DBS-checked. Tutors explain in English, which matters for Sheffield children who think and study in English at school even if another language is spoken at home. Female tutors are available for every course and every time slot; see our female Quran teacher page if that is your preference.
For children aged 4 to 8, cameras stay on throughout. Parents are welcome, and encouraged, to sit in, and every lesson is recorded so you can look back at any session. Tutors also send progress feedback after classes.
Prices for Sheffield families
| Plan | Lessons per month | Price per month |
|---|---|---|
| 2 days a week | 8 | £25 |
| 3 days a week | 12 | £30 |
| 5 days a week | 20 | £40 |
| Weekends | 8 | £30 |
A 15% sibling discount applies only when siblings each join the 5-days-a-week plan. Pay by PayPal, debit or credit card, or UK bank transfer; there is no contract and you can cancel at any time. Custom schedules are available on request. Full details are on our pricing page.
Sheffield FAQs
Do you have a centre or classroom in Sheffield?
No. Learn Quran UK is online only. There are no Sheffield premises and tutors do not travel to homes; every lesson is taught live on Zoom, so you can join from anywhere in the city or beyond.
Can my child keep going to madrasa and do online lessons too?
Yes. Many families use the local madrasa for community and online 1-to-1 lessons for extra reading practice, Tajweed correction or Hifz revision. The placement test makes sure the two do not overlap or repeat work.
How do I find a Quran teacher in Sheffield who teaches girls?
Ask for a female tutor when you book. Female tutors are available for every course and every time slot, including after-school and weekend lessons, at no extra cost.
Are there Hifz classes Sheffield students can do online?
Yes. Our Hifz course is taught 1-to-1, usually five days a week, with daily new memorisation and structured revision. It suits beginners and students who already have some juz memorised.
What if Sheffield schools close for snow or a holiday?
Online lessons do not depend on roads or buildings, so they can usually go ahead. If you would rather move a lesson, let us know at least 1 hour before and it will be rescheduled.
Which term dates should I follow?
Check Sheffield City Council’s published term dates and your child’s school website, because academies can set their own. Families in neighbouring boroughs should check their own council’s dates.
How does the free trial work?
You get three 30-minute trial lessons over 3 days, free. It lets your child meet the tutor, take the placement test and get used to learning on Zoom before you choose a plan.
Start Quran lessons in Sheffield this week
Book your free 3-day trial and tell us your preferred times, course and whether you would like a female tutor. Email Contact@learnquran.uk, call or WhatsApp 07915 652567, or use our contact form. Not sure which option is right yet? Compare the alternatives on our Quran classes near me page or read the full guide to online Quran classes.