What is the Primary Years Programme (PYP)?
It is the official curriculum framework and teaching methodology of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) developed to meet the needs of children in the Primary Years of schooling (Early Childhood – Grade 5). It “focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and the world outside” and develops certain competencies and attitudes outlined in a learner profile.

The PYP combines the best research and practice with a wealth of knowledge and experience from international schools to create a significant, relevant, challenging and engaging educational framework for all children that encourages international-mindedness, a positive attitude to learning and reflects real life with meaningful, in-depth inquiries into real issues.

Will my child be taught traditional subjects in the PYP?
Your child will develop essential skills, concepts, knowledge, understanding and attitudes through the trans-disciplinary programme. The PYP provides a scope and sequence of skills and understandings in the major curricular areas of language, mathematics, social studies, science, the Arts, and personal, social and physical education.

What is different about the PYP?
The goals of the PYP are consistent with the philosophy and goals of HIS in providing an international education. Its framework and emphasis on inquiry learning allows us to achieve these effectively. It demands a true partnership between students, teachers and parents in the school community.

• Children are actively engaged in in-depth exploration of issues and themes of universal significance.
  
  
• The curriculum is designed to develop students who reflect a learner profile of attitudes and learning which will allow them to participate to better advantage in the world they will enter as adults.
  
  
• The PYP classroom is student-centred, while teacher-directed. Students are encouraged and developed to be active learners and critical thinkers.
  
  
• Students are encouraged to initiate socially responsible action based on their learning.

How will my child be assessed?
All assessment of student work in the PYP is carried out by your child’s teachers. There are no externally set examinations or externally moderated work. Your child will be assessed in many ways. There is a balance of school-based assessment including student/teacher/parent conferences, writing samples, structured observations and performance tasks, tests and formal assessments.

Most importantly, your child will be involved in developing the criteria of assessment with the teacher and will understand how he/she will be assessed before many assessments take place. This partnership will engender a much greater understanding of assessment, develop better self-assessment, and raise personal achievement expectations. This is part of the PYP goal to increase students’ awareness of their own learning.

Why has HIS adopted the PYP?

• The PYP curriculum is a framework that fits the mission, philosophy and goals of our school.
  
  
• The curriculum is based on sound knowledge and understanding about how children learn and how the brain works.
  
  
• It allows us to have considerable flexibility in the choice of content and topics that our children will study as appropriate to our school.
  
  
• It engages our children in the kind of learning that they will continue throughout their lives.
  
  
• It connects our school to a wider international school network and an internationally respected educational organization, thus stimulating and facilitating continuous school improvement.
  
  
• It allows for easier transfer of students to and from the ever-increasing number of schools offering PYP or similar programmes.