PYP
What is the Primary Years Programme (PYP)?
The PYP is designed for students aged 3 to 11 years. GPIS has been an IBPYP school since 2003; the programme is offered in both English and French. The PYP nurtures and develops young students as caring, active participants in a lifelong journey of learning. The PYP offers an inquiry-based, transdisciplinary curriculum framework that builds conceptual understanding. This programme is inspired by recent and up to date research in education and has evolved to become a world leader in future-focused education in response to the challenges and opportunities of our changing world.
The PYP curriculum framework
The framework emphasizes the central principle of agency, which underpins the three pillars of school life.
The Learner
The PYP curriculum framework begins with the premise that PYP students are agents of their own learning and partners in the learning process. They have innate potential to inquire, question, wonder and theorize about themselves, others, and the world around them.
Learning and Teaching
The emphasis on collaborative inquiry and integrative learning honours the curiosity, voice, and contribution of the students. The approaches to learning (ATL) and approaches to teaching (ATT) play a crucial role in the inquiries into the six transdisciplinary themes aimed at promoting understandings about human commonalities of local, national, and global significance.
The Learning Community
The PYP learning community brings to life learning and teaching practices that support students in pursuit of a significant, relevant, engaging, and challenging learning experience.
Agency
At GPIS, students have voice, choice, and ownership for their own learning. PYP students have a strong sense of self efficacy which brings a strong sense of agency to the school community.
Action
Action is the result of agency and a demonstration of the IB learner profile attributes. At GPIS, PYP students engage into individual and collective student’s-initiated action that are authentic, meaningful, and mindful. Action at GPIS is supported by the entire school community.
The PYP Exhibition
At GPIS, the PYP celebrates the students’ learning through the PYP Exhibition. The PYP Exhibition takes place in PYP8 (grade 5). Students showcase their learning journey and agency. Students work in collaboration to lead an inquiry that tackles local and global issues and revel their capacity to take relevant action. This event is the culminating point of the PYP and is shared with the entire school community.
To find more about PYP, visit the IB website:
FAQs
- What is the Primary Years Programme?
- Does the PYP have a specific set of standards?
- What are the advantages of an IB education?
- Does implementing an IB programme mean my child’s school will not teach local or national standards?
- Are IB programmes considered, “gifted”, programmes?
- When do students start and finish the PYP?
- When do they transition to the MYP?
- What is my role in the PYP? How can I learn more about the IB and PYP?