Key Stage 3 Subject :

• Art & Design
• Music/Nasheeds
• Citizenship/ RSE
• Computer Science & ICT
• History
• Maths
• English
• Physical Education
• Home Economics
• Religious Studies
• Islamic Studies
• Science
• Urdu
• PSHCE

Key Stage 4 Subject :

• Arabic ( OPTION AFTER SCHOOL
• Citizenship/RSE
• Art/Textiles
• Business
• Computer Science & I.C.T
• History
• Maths
• English Lang.
• English Lit.
• Religious Studies
• Islamic Studies *
• Triple Award Science/Double Award Science
• Physical Education*
• Urdu
• PSHCE *

* Non-accredited

All our pupils are supported by our dedicated teaching staff and teaching assistants.

Maths

At Islamiyah Girls High School, we believe that mathematics is a vital tool in everyday living. It is equally significant in decision making as well as in various employment sectors including finance and accounting. Additionally, it contributes to the school curriculum by developing pupils’ abilities to calculate, to reason, to solve problems and to handle data. As a vital core subject, much emphasis is put on the way it is educated. We follow the National Curriculum frameworks for KS3. For KS4, we follow the Edexcel GCSE Examination Board Mathematics specifications, students are streamed to ensure pupils reach their full potential.

We deliver extra-curricular enrichment prospects to enhance pupils’ enjoyment of mathematics through a number of competitions namely the “UK Maths Challenge.”

Our objective is to enable pupils to build a secure framework of mathematical reasoning, which they can use and apply with confidence in any spheres of their life.

English

The aim of English as a subject is to develop and enhance the skills of reading; writing, speaking and listening. English at Islamiyah encompasses English Language and Literature. The importance of literacy within the school curriculum holds its foundations within the subject of English, which is then utilised in all other subjects.

We analyse the skills of written language through the reading of various class novels. This helps to refine reading abilities with further enhancement through comprehension activities and reading different types of texts. Reading a variety of genres also enables a better grasp of creative writing and widens the imagination.

Grammar of the English language is consolidated during a variety of fun and interactive activities. We acquire a range of complex vocabulary to benefit our writing tasks. Speaking and Listening skills are frequently monitored through the delivery of individual and group presentations. These take place within the class, with confidence enhanced through school assemblies.

Extra-curricular activities are regularly planned to ensure pupils are exercising their learning skills. Our teaching assistants are busy with the spelling club, where pupils take part in developing their skills. The school regularly takes part in the Young Writers Competition.

Science

With well-designed modern Science facilities, pupils are able to extend their learning. In Key Stage 3, pupils follow Exploring Science where they cover various units. In all three years, Science disciplines such as inheritance, chemical reactions and electricity are studied.

In Key Stage 4, high achieving pupils have the opportunity to gain a Triple Award in Science, leaving with three separate GCSE’s in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Other pupils are entered into a Combined Award in Science, leaving with two GCSE’s

“Teaching across all year groups and all subjects
is of a consistently high standard. Teachers
have outstanding subject knowledge. They
make excellent use of assessment information
to make sure that work is very well matched to
pupils’ needs". – Ofsted

Other Subjects

Islamic Studies

Pupils study the Qu’ran with a view to understanding both the theological and technical aspects, such as historical context, pronunciation and an appreciation of its linguistic beauty. Islamic Studies promotes the ethos and vision of the school through spiritual, moral, religious and cultural development.

This curriculum is tailored to the individual needs of pupils and aims to provide religious teachings within the appropriate contemporary contexts. There is emphasis on fundamental principles relating to aqeedah, fiqh and general topics with focus on historical and modern-day events to enhance intellectual abilities. The aim of Islamic Studies at Islamiyah is to ensure pupils engage pro-actively with their deen so that they are able to represent Islam as exemplary Muslimahs with intellectual awareness of wider society and related issues.

Modern Languages – Urdu & Arabic

Urdu is taught from Year 7 though to GCSE’s. With dedicated staff our pupils excel and become fluent speakers of the language.  Arabic and will available as a option after school, only if there is enough demand and under certain circumstance where the school feels that the pupil has the potential and she wishes to attain a good GCSE grade, the school facilitate  this, at a cost.

History & Religious Studies

The school follows the National Curriculum for History and Religious Studies. At KS3 RS pupils explore other religions. Visiting other religious places is part of the scheme of work. At KS4 level, it is provided through a GCSE specification focusing on Islam.

Art, Design & Nasheeds

Pupils at KS3 level are taught Art, Design & Nasheeds (Music).

In Art, pupils learn to work with different materials producing artwork in various mediums, including canvas, textiles and sculptures. Year 8 & 9 pupils have the chance to exhibit their best work in public places around the Blackburn Area.

In Nasheed lesson, pupils are taught the 99 names and explore different mediums of music.Girls are also chosen to perform at the Annual Awards Presentation.

Business 

GCSE Business provides pupils with skills that will prepare them for the workplace and will contribute to their economic wellbeing. Pupils learn through real-life business situations and problem solving scenarios. The qualifications achieved will assist in preparing pupils to make informed decisions about their further learning opportunities and career choices.

Our curriculum in Business supports the ethos statement of the school. Students are constantly challenged to work collaboratively and think independently when engaging in all lessons and class debates. Lesson materials are engaging to
promote topical discussion and encourage students to develop an enquiring mind.

GCSE Business is a valuable subject for the following careers: Accountancy, Banking, Marketing, Law, Public Relations, Teaching, Personnel, Business Management and Administration.

P.E (Physical Education)

Pupils at Islamiyah School are required to participate in a variety of sporting activities. Pupils will develop the skills required to play the different types of sports and learn all the rules for these sports. The sports vary from Rounder’s, Badminton and Circuit training. The pupils enjoy dodge-ball and aerobics. The school has a large outdoor play area which maximises our ability to deliver good PE lessons and we are fortunate to also have a large indoor hall which is used during wet weather.

The Association of Muslim Schools held their Interfaith Games at Longford Park Stadium, Manchester. We take part in this event which is open to Schools of Muslim, Christian and Jewish Faiths and is a good opportunity for our students to interact with students of other faiths.

The athletics tournament also provides a platform for our students to showcase their skills and act as ambassadors for our school and the faith educational sector as a whole. We expect a competitive event which is fun for all participants, yet respectful and considerate of others

Citizenship (& Home Economics)

At Islamiyah School we aim to encourage a sense of social responsibility, community involvement and political understanding whilst at the same time teaching pupils about Life Skills. This GCSE subject provides pupils with the knowledge, skills and understanding to play an active role in public life. The School holds annual Youth Parliament elections. Citizenship encourages pupils to respect people’s differences, whilst also promoting shared values. At KS3 pupils have cookery & Healthy Eating lessons. They are also given an opportunity to learn gardening skills – all our year 8’s visit the local allotment where they are taught how to grown their own vegetables, such as carrots, spinach and cauliflower. The pupils got to use the vegetables in their Home Economics lesson to make different foods.

Sex Education & Life Skills  

With the highest level of modesty and morality in mind, Sex Education is taught as modules through PSHE, Tarbiyah, personal development, R.E and Science programme of study from Year 7 – 11. An Islamic perspective will form the basis of the content of such modules. Advice will be taken from respected Islamic Scholars at Islamiyah Girls High School is a developmental programme of learning through which young people acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to manage their lives now and in the future. The department aims to make a significant contribution to pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development, their behaviour and safety and the school’s statutory responsibility to promote pupils’ wellbeing.

Life Skills equips pupils with the knowledge, understanding, skills and strategies required to live healthy, safe, productive, capable, responsible and balanced lives. It encourages them to be enterprising and supports them in making effective transitions, positive learning and career choices and in achieving economic wellbeing. An important component of Life Skills is providing opportunities for young people to reflect on and clarify their own values and attitudes and explore the complex and sometimes conflicting range of values and attitudes they encounter now and in the future.

Life Skills contributes to personal development by helping pupils to build their confidence, resilience and self-esteem, and to identify and manage risk, make informed choices and understand what influences their decisions. It enables them to recognise, accept and shape their identities, to understand and accommodate difference and change, to manage emotions and to communicate constructively in a variety of settings. Developing an understanding of themselves, empathy and the ability to work with others will help pupils to form and maintain good relationships, develop the essential skills for future employability and better enjoy and manage their lives.

Concepts

• Identity (their personal qualities, attitudes, skills, attributes and achievements and what influences these)
• Relationships (including different types and in different settings)
• A healthy (including physically, emotionally and socially) balanced lifestyle (including within relationships, work-life, exercise and rest, spending and saving and diet)
• Risk (to be managed rather than simply avoided) and safety (including behaviour and strategies in different settings)
• Diversity and equality (in all its forms)
• Rights, responsibilities (including fairness and justice) and consent (in different contexts)
• Change (as something to be managed) and resilience (the skills, strategies and ‘inner resources’ we can draw on when faced with challenging change or circumstance)
• Power (how it is used and encountered in a variety of contexts including persuasion, bullying, negotiation and ‘win-win’ outcomes)
• Career (including enterprise and economic understanding)

Assemblies/Tutorial Hadith-Theme- of the week/PSHCE

PSHCE (Personal, Social, Health & Citizenship Education) PSHCE is delivered during form time, it covers all aspects of a holistic education.  This contributes to the overall wellbeing and success of our pupils.  Form time topics work in conjunction with the current events calendar which highlights significant dates and events, which include cultural, religious and humanitarian dates and events. The form time session aims to facilitate a delivery that is tailored to provide a more personalised learning experience, it is an opportunity to develop mutual relations between the form class. The distribution of pupils into smaller groups allows the platform for students to receive pastoral care, the chance to express themselves and develop themselves to become valuable Muslim citizens of the UK. Tarbiyah (Personal Development) /SMSC As part of their development, pupils are provided with a weekly tarbiyah sessions.  These cover topics such as emotional wellbeing, Islamic values and manners, community issues and international affairs. Occasionally guest speakers from all backgrounds are invited to our lessons.  Tarbiyah sessions are designed to consolidate learning and explore further the theme of the week introduced in PSHCE.  The theme will link SMSC, British Values and Islamic teachings. From September 2019 we have enhanced our provision for personal development with extra 2 lessons allocated for on Friday. One linked with the theme of the week and the other with specific topics on development or character building. Assembly All pupils attend and participate in assemblies, which focus on character developing, awareness of the world in which they live and knowledge needed for life and work

Form groups are given the responsibility of delivering assemblies, this increases self-confidence and public speaking skills.  Assemblies themes are linked around topics introduced in PSCHE and tarbiyah . They are designed to meet the needs of the pupil’s, especially, Personal development and character building; including current affairs, anti-bullying and charity work.

“The school’s work to promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is of the highest quality. Pupils become impressively reflective and thoughtful, appreciating the differences that exist in modern society and explaining clearly the importance of tolerance and acceptance of differences in people’s views and beliefs.”

Ofsted 2018