Kassim Darwish Grammar School for Boys is an independent Islamic day school for students aged from 11 to 16 years, located in the Chorlton-Cum-Hardy area of Manchester.
We at KD Grammar School think that an excellent education, delivered in a safe caring Islamic environment, gives each pupil room to grow and develop as an individual. Our school strives to create a harmonious balance between academic demands, sporting, and cultural activities, and community life. We encourage students to be intellectually inquisitive and socially conscious. The School believes that while what students know is important, the true measure of a good education is to explore the limitations of their knowledge.
All students must sit an entrance examination in Mathematics, English, and Islamic Studies. All candidates will be expected to bring their pen and pencil but they will not need a calculator. The examinations will be spread throughout the morning and boys will be provided with refreshments.
Candidates wishing to apply for entry in other years will also need to sit examinations in the core subjects. This is to determine their academic standard within key areas of the National Curriculum. If your son passes, he will be invited to attend, a formal interview with the Head Teacher. Parents are invited to be present. The school will also obtain a confidential report from your son’s current school. A student will only be offered a place if the Head Teacher is satisfied that he has met all the entrance criteria. To maintain small class sizes entry to the school is competitive and based on academic performance and interviews.
Opportunities are also provided for our students to be involved in the school and wider community, especially about taking responsibility and developing leadership skills. We aim to develop mature, confident, and well-balanced young men with the personal attributes of resilience and commitment which open the way to the “best” in Higher Education and employment. The majority of pupils who join us in year 7 proceed naturally to university degree courses at the age of 18.
KD is a Muslim school that is open to students of all faiths. Overarching and underpinning all of the school’s work are the values of love, respect, compassion, and self-discipline together with a sense of awe and wonder about Allah SWT who sees each child as unique and precious. It is on this solid faith foundation that the school strives to be the best that it can be.
Our aim is, therefore, quite simply, to produce both proud British citizens and also ambassadors for Islam. A balance is sought at KD Grammar School to enhance both the importance of a solid education and spiritual guidance and enlightenment which help produce confident young men who will make valid, noble, and worthy contributions to the wider society they live in.
Assessment is a vital element in the progress of a pupil and the need for ongoing, teacher-led assessment is a crucial part of effective teaching. Consequently, KD Grammar assesses the progress of students at four points in each academic year, tracking their performance against their target grades. Each of the three termly formal assessments is accompanied by scrutiny of each pupil’s performance to ensure the required level of progress is being maintained and this is fed back to the parents using a data report that is sent home. The fourth assessment is the end-of-year exam which is accompanied by a much more in-depth report, celebrating areas of good progress and highlighting any areas requiring improvement.
Year 11 pupils have a slightly different assessment system as they are given GCSE Mocks exams in December to assess their progress towards their target grades for the summer exams. These exams are quickly marked and the results given to parents in an individual report. Much emphasis is placed on the results of these exams as these are often used by colleges for application forms and making offers for places for A level.
The GCSE results for KD Grammar are amongst the highest in Manchester, with KD continuing to be the number 1 boys’ school in Manchester. The GCSE pass rate is very nearly twice that of Manchester LEA (49%) and has averaged out at over 91% for the last three years for A*-C (including English and Maths).
We at KD Grammar School for Boys strongly believe that a positive partnership with parents is vital for the success of our students. Any parent who has a query or concern, can ring the school office and make any necessary appointments to discuss the relevant queries.
