Curriculum Classes 3 – 8
Curriculum Rationale
The City School aims to provide the highest quality educational opportunities in:
- Literacy and numeracy skills.
- A broad and balanced range of knowledge, skills and understanding.
- The development of higher order and independent thinking skills.
- An enlightened awareness of Islam and tolerance of other religions
- Personal and social development.
Curriculum Framework
- Our knowledge and skill-based curriculum shares some common aims and objectives with the UK National Curriculum but is adapted to our own national context and the needs of our students.
- In keeping with international standards and Cambridge Assessment International Examination (CAIE) expectations, the teaching methodology encourages a student-centred approach, allowing children to play an active role in their own development.
- The curriculum is spiral in nature, in that the same concepts and skills will be taught at various times throughout the Classes, but with increasing levels of complexity and sophistication.
- The Core Subjects of English, Urdu, Maths and Science are taught in all Classes from 3-8.
- Non-Core subjects also taught in all Classes are: Islamiyat, PE, ICT and a Library period.
- Social Studies is taught in Classes 3-5, and History/Geography in Classes 6-8.
- Music/Drama, and Art/Crafts/Hobbies are taught in Classes 3-5.
Termly Syllabus
- Students and parents are informed about the syllabus content for each subject at the start of each term.
O Levels / Matric (Classes 9 – 11)
O Level or Matric?
- The City School is primarily a Cambridge GCE O Level (and A Level) school system, and parents must be aware of this when registering their children.
- Matric is offered in schools only where student numbers and facilities – including the availability of classrooms and laboratories – justify the provision.
- Despite The City School ‘s expectations that all pupils will take O Levels, by the time pupils have entered Class 8, teachers and Heads may be of the opinion that some children will not easily cope with the O Level course of studies and that it is therefore better for the child to follow the Matric course of studies in terms of obtaining a good Matric certificate rather than a poor O Level result.
- The Mid-Year examinations in Class 8 form the basis of this bifurcation decision and parents are fully involved at all stages.
O Level Curriculum Framework
- The City School follows the O Level examination syllabuses of the Cambridge Assessment International Examinations Board. CAIE is greatly respected throughout Pakistan and in many other countries.
- Students in Classes 9 & 10 all study: English, Mathematics, Urdu, Islamiyat and Pakistan Studies; and then either Science subjects (Physics, Chemistry & Biology) or Business subjects (Economics, Business Studies and either Accounts or Computer Studies). In larger campuses additional optional subjects may be available.
- Students then take O Level examinations at the end of Class 10 in: Urdu, Islamiyat and Pakistani Studies.
- Students in Class 11 continue with English, Mathematics and their other chosen subjects, taking O Level examinations at the end of Class 11 in all these subjects.
- Students also have one PE period per week in Classes 9-11.
