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Primary Years Programme (PYP)

The PYP stands for Primary Years Programme and is taught to children between the ages of 3 and 12. The number of schools offering the PYP varies from country to country. For example in Spain and Germany, where the IB is quite popular, it tends to be only the very large international schools based in major cities which offer the PYP alongside an “all through” education including the MYP and DP. In Asia, it is often a standard part of the IB curriculum. However, in the UK, there are only a very small number of UK private schools offering the PYP and they are mostly in the Greater London area, catering for the children of international expatriates working in the UK.

In the IB Primary Years Programme learning is arranged around six globally relevant themes that encompass the knowledge base for children in the 21st Century:

  • Who we are
  • Where we are in place and time
  • How we express ourselves
  • How the World Works
  • How we organise ourselves
  • Sharing the Planet

The Curriculum Framework encompasses five essential elements which balance knowledge and skills, the development of conceptual understanding, a demonstration of positive attitudes and taking responsible action. The aim is to:

  • gain KNOWLEDGE that has relevance and significance globally as well as locally
  • develop an understanding of CONCEPTS and make connections across their learning
  • develop SKILLS that will help them across their learning as well as skills related to particular disciplines
  • develop and reflect upon ATTITUDES that help them develop international-mindedness
  • take ACTION based upon their learning

The subject areas are:-

  • Arts
  • Language
  • Science
  • Social studies
  • Mathematics
  • Personal, social and physical education.

We cannot always find a PYP school in the location you want and it is rare to find boarding schools offering it. Thus, we may have to recommend a pre-prep or prep school using the local national curriculum and then a transfer to an IB school at a later age.