PARENT PACK
Frequently asked questions about the Primary Years Programme
What is the Primary Years Programme?
The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is a curriculum
framework for young learners aged 3–12 designedby the International Baccalaureate (IB). Founded on aphilosophy that recognizes a child’s natural curiosity,
creativity and ability to reflect, the PYP generates astimulating, challenging learning environment to nurture those assets and foster a lifelong love of learning inevery child. The PYP, like all IB programmes, is transdisciplinary, meaning students learn across subject areas
while investigating big ideas.

Does the PYP have a specific set ofstandards?
In the PYP, students learn about significant concepts
through units of inquiry. The six transdisciplinary
themes that guide units of inquiry and compose a yearof study are:
• Who we are• Where we are in place and time
• How we express ourselves• How the world works• How we organize ourselves• Sharing the planet.

The school outlines its specific knowledge content
and academic curriculum, guided by the following fiveessential elements:• The knowledge content is organized under thetransdisciplinary themes. Each school decides which
specific topics to study under each theme.
• The learning skills aim to help students become independent, well-functioning, self-motivated learners.
• The learning attitudes aim to develop a lifelong loveof learning and nurture a child’s curiosity and confidence.
• The action component emphasizes the need toconnect the student with his or her own potential
and responsibility for using what was learned.
• The rigorous guidelines for classroom practices tomatch the educational philosophy and values of theIB are communicated through professional development and a school’s internal reflection process.

Units of inquiry interweave subject areas such as
mathematics, language arts, science and social studies.
This approach encourages students to make their own
connections between what they learn in core subject
areas and how it relates to the world around them.

ibo.orgWhat are the advantages of an IBeducation?
• IB World Schools (the only schools authorized to offer
IB programmes) are subject to a strict accreditation
process monitored by the IB, ensuring that schools
provide a high-quality education.
• IB teaching methods and curriculums are research-based and draw from the best educational
practices from systems around the world.
• IB teachers are required to participate in many professional development opportunities to continuallypromote their awareness of current educational
practices and new thinking.
• IB students develop a sense of the world aroundthem and their responsibility to it. (See “What is an IBEducation?”)• IB programmes are recognized internationally andease the educational transitions of mobile students
so that their education is not adversely affected if
their families relocate.

Do IB teachers receive special training?
All PYP teachers receive professional development inIB’s approaches to teaching and approaches to learningfrom certified IB workshop leaders. This is a requirement
for IB World Schools implementing the PYP.

Are IB programmes considered “gifted”
programmes?
The PYP is implemented schoolwide and adapted byteachers to meet the learning needs of all students. In
most cases, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) is alsoa schoolwide program. All PYP teachers are required toparticipate in collaborative planning and reflection tomake their teaching practices consistent and to foster aholistic approach to education. A growing body of evidence suggests a positive relationship between
teacher collaboration and studentachievement.

Does implementing an IB programme mean
my child’s school will not teach local or national standards such as the Common Core?
The IB is committed to making sure that students in IB
programmes meet and exceed local or national standards. With the implementation of any IB programme,
schools are required to examine their curriculum carefully to ensure that there is alignment with local, state ornational standards. More information on the IB and theCommon Core is available at www.ibo.org.

Have studies been done on the impact ofthe PYP?
The IB places great value on external validation of its
programmes, curriculums and professional development. A recent Global International Schools’ Assessment
study found that PYP students outperformed non-IB
students in mathematics, reading and writing. Additional studies on programme impact, quality assurance,
programme development and assessment research areavailable at www.ibo.org/research.

When do students start and finish the PYP?
When do they transition to the MYP?
The PYP is designed for students aged 3–12 (preschooland primary grades). The MYP spans students aged
11–16, and the Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) is for the last two years of highschool, students aged 16–19.

How can I learn more about the IB and PYP?
••••

Visit the IB website at www.ibo.org
Attend school meetings and events
Speak with your school’s PYP coordinator
Speak with your child’s PYP classroom teacher.