The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) is an educational programme managed by the International Baccalaureate (IB) for students aged 3 to 12.
The PYP:
While the programme prepares students for the IB Middle Years Programme, it is not a prerequisite for it, in the same way the Middle Years Programme is not a prerequisite to sit the IB Diploma. In fact IB Continuum schools (that go through IB PYP to MYP to DP) are exceptions rather than the rule.
The IB is a framework more than a curriculum and is less prescriptive than other "curricula", for example the Early Years Foundation Stage that underpins UK primary education. This applies to both teaching methods, and to content.
The philosophy of the PYP is to make the students into "inquirers, thinkers, communicators, risk takers, knowledgeable, principled, caring, open-minded, well-balanced, and reflective".
The PYP is however underpinned by six 'transdisciplinary' themes around which learning is planned.
These are:
Subject areas of the PYP include language, social studies, mathematics, science and technology, arts, and personal, social and physical education. Students are required to learn a second language during the programme.
Themes are selected for their relevance to the real world and are used to help teachers develop a programme of inquiry. Teachers work together to develop investigations into important ideas, which require a substantial and high level of involvement on the part of students.
School name | Community | Region |
---|---|---|
ACS International School (Egham) | Surrey | South East England |
Dwight School London (Lower School) | Barnet | Greater London |
Dwight School London (Upper School) | Barnet | Greater London |
Rossall School | Lancashire | North West England |
Southbank International School (Kensington) | Kensington and Chelsea | Greater London |
St Leonards | Fife | Scotland |