PYP CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK

The PYP curriculum framework is based on the premise that students are agents of their own learning and partners in the learning process. It prioritises people and their relationships to build a strong learning community.

PYP students use their initiative to take responsibility and ownership of their learning. By learning through inquiry and reflecting on their learning, PYP students develop knowledge, conceptual understandings, skills and the attributes of the IB Learner profile to make a difference in their lives, communities, and beyond.

The framework emphasises the central principle of agency, which underpins the three pillars of school life:

1. The learner: describes the outcomes for individual students and the outcomes they seek for themselves (what is learning?)
2. Learning and teaching: articulates the distinctive features of learning and teaching (how best to support learners?)
3. The learning community: emphasises the importance of the social outcomes of learning and the role that IB communities play in achieving these outcomes (who facilitates learning and teaching?)

Embedded in the framework is the recognition of the importance of fostering an individual’s self-efficacy. Students with a strong sense of self-efficacy are active in their own learning and take action in their learning community.

Learner profile

The IB PYP Learner Profile is a set of 10 attributes that foster holistic development, international-mindedness, and personal growth in students aged 3–12, focusing on who they are becoming rather than just what they know. These traits are integral to the Primary Years Programme, nurturing compassionate, responsible, active global citizens.

The 10 IB Learner Profile Attributes:

· Inquirers: They develop their natural curiosity, acquiring skills for inquiry and research to enjoy learning.
· Knowledgeable: They explore concepts, ideas, and issues across disciplines, gaining deep understanding.
· Thinkers: They exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to solve complex problems.
· Communicators: They express themselves confidently and creatively in multiple languages and ways, collaborating effectively.
· Principled: They act with integrity, honesty, and a strong sense of fairness and justice.
· Open-minded: They appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, while being open to the perspectives and traditions of others.
· Caring: They show empathy, compassion, and respect towards the needs and feelings of others.
· Risk-takers: They approach uncertainty with courage, exploring new roles, ideas, and strategies.
· Balanced: They understand the importance of balancing intellectual, physical, and emotional aspects to achieve well-being.
· Reflective: They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience, acting to support their personal development.

Student Agency

Student agency in the IB PYP (Primary Years Programme) signifies that learners have voice, choice, and ownership of their learning, acting as partners in the educational process rather than passive recipients. It focuses on fostering self-efficacy, independent inquiry, and taking purposeful action to impact their communities.

Core Components of PYP Student Agency:

· Voice: Students express their opinions, ask questions, and contribute ideas, ensuring they are heard.
· Choice: Learners make decisions about their learning, including what they study, how they approach tasks, and how they demonstrate understanding.
· Ownership: Students take responsibility for their learning goals, action, and outcomes, becoming invested in their own growth.

International Mindedness

International-mindedness in the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) is an overarching perspective fostering empathy, intercultural understanding, and global engagement. It empowers students to appreciate their own culture while respecting others, moving beyond stereotypes to promote active, compassionate citizenship. This is developed through inquiry-based learning, multilingualism, and the Learner Profile.

Core Components of International Mindedness:

Intercultural Understanding: Respecting and appreciating multiple perspectives and cultural diversity, realizing that different views can be valid.
Global Engagement: A willingness to engage with local and global challenges, such as climate change and human rights.
Multilingualism: Viewed as a fundamental part of communication and a way to reshape how students view the world, not just a skill.

Advantages of IB PYP

PYP students develop knowledge, conceptual understandings, skills and the attributes of the IB learner profile to make a positive difference in their lives, communities, and beyond. Students also demonstrate the agility and imagination to respond to new and unexpected challenges and opportunities and to take action for a better and more peaceful world.

The programme develops students’ academic, social and emotional wellbeing, focusing on international-mindedness and a sense of belonging to local and global communities.
It nurtures independent and collaborative learners, encouraging every student to have a voice, choice and ownership of their own learning.