IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) – Curriculum Overview and Key Benefits

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) is for students aged 3 to 12 years old. The PYP curriculum focuses on developing students both academically and extracurricularly. The IB board schools have designed this programme to foster independent learning, critical thinking and creativity of the student.

The IP PYP programme was first introduced in 1997. The PYP curriculum makes sure that students are engaged in integrated ongoing assessments which helps them with gaining confidence and self-motivation. The teachers are highly trained and guide students throughout the course by developing their conceptual understanding and strengthening their knowledge and skills in all subject areas. Students can scroll below to learn more about the IP PYP curriculum.

IB PYP Curriculum Framework

The PYP curriculum focuses on three main pillars that are the learner, learning and teaching and the learning community.

• The learner: It focuses on the personal growth and achievement of individual students. The goal is for the students to seek an outcome they want for themselves. Through this, they try to answer “What does learning mean to them?”

• Learning and teaching; This framework works around students and teachers, it explains the unique characteristics of the teaching and learning process. It focuses on how support can help students with their learning and growth. It goes in-depth on how can we best support students.

• The learning community: It emphasizes the importance of social aspects of learning. The role the IB community that plays in achieving these goals for the students.

International Baccalaureate PYP Subjects

Along with focusing on the transdisciplinary themes, the PYP program also covers general subjects such as those given below:

• Language

• Mathematics

• Science

• Social Studies

• Arts

• Physical Education

PYP Language Learning

As per the programme, every language is important, whether it is the language students speak at home, school or community. Hence, they offer the opportunity to learn more than one language to help develop students’ multilingualism and promote intercultural understanding. They encourage students to learn one main language alongside other. For example, students can choose to have classes in both English and Spanish. It helps with broadening their language skills and makes them confident.

Who Offers the PYP?

The IB PYP programme is offered by many schools. As per the status, over 127 countries, including state, private and international schools cover the PYP program. As of September 2023, there were a total of 2,275 schools that offered PYP curricula worldwide.

How to become a PYP school?

Any school that teaches students from age 3 to 12 years can turn into an IB PYP school. Schools that choose to offer the PYP curriculum focus on developing their students’ academic, social and emotional well-being. They focus on international-mindedness and bring a sense of belonging to local and global communities.

The program is adaptable and any school can apply by submitting an online application available on the official website, www.ibo.org. Schools must complete the application process and once the application is approved they can start implementing the PYP curriculum. They can apply the IP PYP curriculum along with their existing curriculum.

Why PYP Should be Offered to Students?

The PYP curriculum helps students grow as curious learners both in school and in real life. The students learn to take control of their own learning. They get to work on themselves and grow as an individual to face the challenges of the world. The six transdisciplinary themes guide them in understanding and exploring real-world problems.

Conclusion

The IB PYP Programme is a comprehensive approach to education that prepares students for the real world and modern life. This curriculum fosters inquiry and creates a foundation for lifelong learning and global citizenship. Students get to explore transdisciplinary themes that transcend traditional subject boundaries. The theme focuses on “Who we are”, “Where we are in place and time”, “How we express ourselves”, “How the world works”, “How we organize ourselves” and “Sharing the planet”. These themes bring out the curiosity in children to investigate real world issues and develop their essential academic skills across multiple disciplines.