A MUSLIM teacher has won an award for helping underachieving students reach their full potential.

Rukhsana Yaqoob, 60, of Leytonstone, received the Excellence in Education Award by Muslim News UK.

Mrs Yaqoob has taught in schools in Waltham Forest for 26 years and is President of the Muslim Teachers’ Association.

She is a member of National Strategies, programmes which aim to improve the quality of learning in schools across England.

She said: “Because I am Muslim when I saw Muslim students struggling it was very close to my heart.

“I did a project to help Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Turkish and Somali students because they were grossly underachieving and not reaching their potential. It involved working with the parents to try and get them on board to support the students.

“The programme was run through the Department for Education in 17 school across England and we saw a huge difference.

“I feel very proud to have received this award and I am honoured. It is very humbling to know all your hard work has been recognised.”

The mother-of-two and grandmother-of-one moved to the UK from Pakistan when she was four years old.