ISLAMIYAH GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL
“To educate a girl, is to educate an entire nation”
Curriculum Policy
Rationale:
The curriculum at Islamiyah reflects the overarching goal of the School’s mission statement, vision and aim. We want pupils to enjoy learning, to become independent and effective learners and to achieve academic success in an atmosphere that fosters positive relationships and mental health, promotes equality and celebrates diversity.
The curriculum and extra-curricular opportunities promote social and cultural enrichment, and a strong sense of community whilst being responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society.
Mission Statement: Providing educational excellence in an Islamic environment to inspire, nurture and enable our young British citizens to serve and positively contribute to society as a whole.
School Vision and Aims:
- Offer a broad and balanced curriculum, alongside a positive understanding of Islam, to equip every pupil with skills to be a successful learner, confident individual and responsible British citizen
- Provide pupils with a safe, secure and stimulating learning environment, which develops their intellect and talents as independent learners giving pupils the confidence to believe that their aspirations are achievable
- Encourage and enable each pupil to develop moral integrity, a sense of social responsibility and respect for themselves and others
- Build upon our partnership with parents, pupils, staff, Governors and other stakeholders and strengthen and extend collaborative links with the wider community
All our pupils have the opportunity not only to attain excellent results in a variety of subjects, but more importantly they can attain the English Baccalaureate. Our dedicated staff endeavour to support the pupils in all aspects including their academic achievements.
Curriculum: Intent, Implementation & the Impact
At Islamiyah we have advanced a curriculum which:
- Develops our learner’s learning (Our head and body: what we learn)
- Develops the character of our learners (Our heart and character: Who we are when we learn)
- Develops behaviours and habits to become effective learners (Our actions and attitudes: How we act when we learn)
- Develops the moral compass of our learners (Our place in the community and wider world: Who we are)
Our curriculum has a clear purpose and is focused around excitement and love for learning. We aim to ensure that learning is bespoke to the needs of our learners and demonstrates a strong understanding about specific needs to succeed in life.
Intent – What are we trying to achieve here with, and through, the curriculum?
Intention 1: Develop our learner’s learning (Our head and body: what we learn)
To develop the appropriate subject specific knowledge, skills and understanding as set out in the National Curriculum and beyond, so that children can flourish, reach and exceed their potential academically, physically and artistically.
Intention 1: Inspire to achieve
Successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve
We provide a curriculum that challenges each and every individual. We want every student to achieve the best possible qualifications that they can, but we believe that the curriculum goes beyond that which is purely examinable. We believe that every learner is entitled to a rich and varied curriculum which is inspiring and makes them responsible British citizens.
- Offer a broad and balanced curriculum, alongside a positive understanding of Islam, to equip every pupil with skills to be a successful learner, confident individual and responsible British citizen.
Intention 2 (A): Develop the character of our learners (Our heart and character: who we are when we learn
To develop learners to have a holistic set of values that prepares them for life in the modern world in a diverse and ever changing community and workplace.
- The development of confidence, effective learning strategies and a growth mind-set are central to our evolving curriculum.
Intention 2 – (B) Growth to empower cultural capital and character
- Provide pupils with a safe, secure and stimulating learning environment, which develops their intellect and talents as independent learners giving pupils the confidence to believe that their aspirations are achievable.
Intention 3: Develop behaviours and habits to become effective learners (Our actions and attitudes: how we act when we learn
To develop the behaviours learners need to succeed in the world such as concentration, perseverance, imagination, co-operation, the enjoyment of learning, self-improvement and curiosity. The changing nature of society and employment means that life-long learning, collaboration and resilience are essential to be successful.
- Provide pupils with a safe, secure and stimulating learning environment, which develops their intellect and talents as independent learners giving pupils the confidence to believe that their aspirations are achievable.
Intention 4 (A): Develop the moral compass of our learners (Our place in the community and wider world: who we are)
- To understand spirituality in themselves and others, develop social skills and understand society, build a firm set of personal morality, and to engage in the culture they live in and understand the cultures of others. To become confident individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives. Our curriculum promotes pupils’ moral, cultural, spiritual, emotional and physical development at school and within the community more widely. It also promotes learning as an activity that should be enjoyable, engaging and rewarding. It is our intention at each key stage to lay the foundations for further study progressing into further and higher education including apprenticeships. We consider preparation for the study of A-Levels to be a key feature of the 11-16 curriculum.
Intent 4 – (B) Service to the Society
- Build upon our partnership with parents, pupils, staff, Governors and other stakeholders and strengthen and extend collaborative links with the wider community.
Curriculum Implementation
Our curriculum will be implemented with our intentions as the drivers behind our actions. By ensuring we think about what we learn, who we are when we are learning, how we act when we learn and who we are in the world, we build happy, resilient, successful, good citizens. Our implementation plan ensures our curriculum keeps us focussed on these areas.
In order to progress and accelerate learning, subjects are encouraged to be informed by the national curriculum but not confined by it. We believe that given the academic nature of our students they can be better prepared for future study by being provided with bespoke, challenging work to better prepare them for the rigours of Key Stages 4 and 5. All students begin a GCSE in Religious Studies and Urdu in Year 9 with examinations taking place in Year 10. Students will choose options towards the end of Year 9 for KS4 between ART/TEXTILES and Sociology depending upon which subject is best for the pupil to pursue to help them personalise their curriculum, a broad and balanced approach is not only maintained but enhanced. Teachers will ensure a variety of summative and formative feedback techniques are used to ensure all students know what they must do next to improve further.
SPECIFIC SUBJECTS’ INTENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPACT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE SCHEMES OF WORK FOR EACH SUBJECT
The school is exceptionally successful in achieving its aim of ‘Offering a broad and balanced curriculum alongside a positive understanding of Islam, to equip every pupil with skills to be a successful learner, confident individual and responsible British citizen.’ Ofsted 2018
Key Stage 3 Subject :
- Arabic
- Art & Design
- Citizenship/ RSE
- Computer Science
- Creative IMedia
- English
- History
- Islamic Studies
- Maths
- Music/Nasheeds
- Physical Education
- PSHCE
- Religious Studies
- Science
- Tarbiyyah
- Urdu
Key Stage 4 Subject :
- Arabic (OPTIONAL AFTER SCHOOL)
- Citizenship/RSE
- Art/Textiles
- Computer Science
- Creative iMedia
- English Lang.
- English Lit.
- History
- Home Economics
- Islamic Studies *
- Maths
- PSHCE *
- Physical Education*
- Religious Studies
- Sociology
- Tarbiyyah
- Triple Award Science/Double Award Science
- Urdu
* 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 is available as an option after school, only if there is enough demand and under certain circumstances 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.
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 took 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 grow 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 programmes 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. They are 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 balance, budgeting 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. Assembly 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.
GCSE RESULTS FOR YEAR : 2022-2023
You can view Islamiyah Girls’ High School’s GCSE result for the years 2021,, 2022 and 2023 and the progress the school has made in these last 3 years. See Table →
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| %grades 4-9 | %grades 4-9 | %grades 4-9 |
| English Language 91 | 95 | 90 |
| English Literature 97 | 97 | 90 |
| Maths 91 | 95 | 88 |
| Combined Science 80 | 93 | 84 |
| Biology 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Chemistry 93 | 100 | 100 |
| Physics 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Triple sciences 98 Citizenship 91 | 97 100 | 100 |
| History 91 | 94 | 86 |
| Computer Science 66 | 96 | 61 |
| Business 87 | 100 | 90 |
| Religious Studies 88 | 98 | 96 |
| Urdu 95 | 97 | 86 |
| Arabic 100 | 100 | – |