PYP Programme

Lynne Horrobin
Primary School Deputy Head and Primary Years Programme Co-ordinator

The International Community School was authorised to teach the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme in June of 2008.  The Primary Years Programme, which is taught to students aged 3yrs – 11yrs, has a holistic approach to education providing a curriculum which focuses on real life issues. This enables students to learn through the skills and knowledge of traditional subject areas such as mathematics, language, science, social studies, the arts, personal and social education and information technology, which are taught in context, through units of inquiry.  This offers opportunities for students to apply skills and knowledge in daily situations.

The common thread between all International Baccalaureate Programmes is the Learner Profile, consisting of ten attributes essential to living in an ever changing world.  The whole school community is encouraged to be:

• Inquirers  
• Knowledgeable  
• Thinkers  
• Communicators 
• Principled  
• Open-minded  
• Caring  
• Risk-takers  
• Balanced 
• Reflective

The Primary Years Programme consists of 5 essential elements:

Through identified key concepts and transdisciplinary skills, students are supported and encouraged through the process of inquiry through 6 Transdisciplinary Themes.  ‘Units of Inquiry’ are developed, each with a central idea and inquiry lines.  Students are encouraged to make connections to their own lives and inquire into areas of personal interest to extend understanding and take action by initiating responsibility in real life situations.  These may extend from personal to global issues.

During the last year of primary school, when a student reaches year 6, the students use  their ability to apply skills and knowledge in an exhibition, where the teacher acts as a facilitator only –empowering the students to demonstrate independent learning, personal strengths and the process of putting these into action.