Do students need to be grouped by age or ability?

Ideally, students should be grouped by age or school year, as this aligns with the structure of the Safar curriculum and supports clear progression.

However, this is not always practical. Where numbers are limited, it is possible to combine classes across year groups. In the UK context, this may also involve combining Key Stages where needed.

For example, Key Stage 1 covers Years 1–2 (ages 5–7) and Key Stage 2 covers Years 3–6 (ages 7–11). A madrasah may combine Years 3 and 4 within Key Stage 2 and teach using Textbook 3, or combine Years 5 and 6 and teach using Textbook 5 or 6 depending on ability. In smaller settings, it may even be necessary to combine across Key Stages, such as teaching Years 2 and 3 together using a suitable level.

The Safar curriculum is designed to support this flexibility. Each textbook includes overlapping content and built-in revision sections, allowing teachers to bridge gaps and ensure all students can access the material, even in mixed-age or mixed-Key Stage classes.

Note: For the Learn to Read Series and Learn by Heart Series, grouping by ability is more effective than grouping by age, as students progress at different rates in reading and memorisation.

If further support is needed, Safar provides guidance, training and practical implementation advice to help structure classes effectively.