THE owners of an after school club have vowed they won't change its name – despite the name being similar to that of an ultra-violent terrorist group.

Isis Out of School Club has received criticism for having the same name as the terrorist group, Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, which is frequently referred to as ISIS.

The jihadist group, which controls swathes of Iraq and Syria and has brutally executed thousands of people, is also referred to by the media as the so-called Islamic State or ISIL.

Lucy Hopper and Siri Roake set up the club 18 months ago, and said they came up with the name because of the Egyptian goddess Isis, and an amalgamation of nicknames a child once gave them.

But the women have ruled out changing the club’s name, despite some negative comments.

Mother-of-two Lucy told a Daily Echo online sister site that the name was “fine at first” but since last April, questions over the name have become more frequent.

She said: “In the last few months we have had a lot of people say things and we feel we must defend ourselves. Even though they are called Islamic State, the media portray them as ISIS and we have been asked if it is appropriate (to be named ISIS).

“We get comments on Facebook and people are quite rude and we have to defend ourselves.

"We have had people on Facebook say ‘this is an inappropriate name for an after school club’ and we had one lady say ‘it is inappropriate, it sends a shiver down my spine’.

“It is a constant battle so we tell people to come in and see us and what we do. We are good at what we do, we have been doing it for years.”

The women said that Ofsted asked if they would consider changing the name of club which is based at Russell Howard Sports Pavilion and at Winklebury Infant School in Basinstoke.

But the education watchdog is unable to force it to do so.

The 35-year-old said she and Siri came up with the name because of a previous experience with a child they both looked after, as well as naming it after the Egyptian goddess, Isis.

She added: “When we worked together in a nursery, a boy called me ‘Is’ and Siri ‘Sis’ and we put it together.

"We do second guess ourselves to the point where we say should we (change the name) but then we have come so far and fought so hard and the kids are happy and the parents are happy.

“If a terrorist group called themselves Lucy, would I change my name? No I would not.”

She added: “I hope people will understand that we are an after-school club in Basingstoke and there is no connection with that and they will come and see us and see that everyone is happy.”

She hopes that speaking out will save them from having constantly explain the name, adding: “Mostly, I hope if we were to get it out there to other people and explain ourselves without having to do it daily.”

“We do second guess ourselves to the point where we say should we [change the name] but then we have come so far and fought so hard and the kids are happy and the parents are happy.

“If a terrorist group called themselves Lucy, would I change my name? No I would not.”

She added: “I hope people will understand that we are an after school club in Basingstoke and there is no connection with that and they will come and see us and see that everyone is happy.”

She hopes that speaking out will save them from having to constantly explain the name, adding: “Mostly, I hope if we were to get it out there to other people and explain ourselves without having to do it daily.”

The jihadist group can trace its origins back to insurgent groups formed to fight the most recent US-led invasion of Iraq.

In June 2014, the so-called Islamic State declared a “caliphate”, urging Muslims from all over the world to join them.

At least 700 people from the UK are thought to have flown out to join the group, although some have since returned and some have died.

The group achieved notoriety for its executions of innocent people, like aid worker Alan Henning.