IB or International Baccalaureate is an educational programme developed in 1968 with the support of UNESCO. It covers all levels of study:
- Primary Years Programme (PYP) for children from 3 to 12 years old,
- Middle Years Programme (MYP) for children 11–16 years old,
- Diploma Programme (DP) for students from 16 to 19 years old.
In this article, we will tell you more about the Primary Years Programme.
Objectives of IB PYP Programme
The IB Primary Years Programme is designed for children between the ages of 3 and 12 and aims to educate young researchers, both academically and socially. The programme relies on problem-based learning together with an individual approach. It has absorbed the best that has been developed and supplemented according to the educational research data and the experience of leading international schools.
The PYP authors argue that this modern educational practice is future-oriented and empowers children to meet the challenges of our rapidly-changing world.
Programme structure
The IB elementary curriculum includes 6 subject areas:
- language
- social studies
- mathematics
- arts
- science
- personal, social and physical education
Pupils also study 6 important transdisciplinary themes:
- Who we are: human personality, our mental, physical, spiritual and social health, interpersonal relationships, rights, responsibilities, beliefs, values and culture
- Where we are in place and time: orientation, home, travel, resettlement, discovery, research
- How we express ourselves: understanding and expressing ideas, feelings, values, creativity
- How the world works: laws of nature, human influence on the surrounding world
- How we organise ourselves: society, communities, organisations
- Sharing the planet: the distribution of territories and resources, international relations, peacekeeping, conflict resolution
By studying these topics of global importance, children expand their knowledge, learn to define and understand meanings in all subject areas, between them and beyond.
In the lessons, pupils are encouraged to take initiative and responsibility for their own learning. The teacher poses a problem to the students and some contradiction arises between the new requirement and an insufficient level of knowledge, skills and abilities. While trying to solve the problem, PYP learners seek to fill these gaps.
Features of IB PYP programme
IB PYP is based on the idea that students are responsible for their own learning and should actively participate in the educational process. Improving their own efficiency is considered important. Those who strive for self-sufficiency are interested in their own learning.
Particular attention is paid to building student-student and student-teacher relationships in order to create a harmonious learning community that teaches and learns.
IB at British International School Moscow
At BISM, primary classes are taught according to the national educational programmes of England and Wales. We strive to give our students a classic English education, as we are a member of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) and teach to its high standards. But we approve and appreciate the International Baccalaureate programme and offer IB DP to our graduating students at School 3. This diploma makes it possible to enter almost any university in the world.