Primary Years Programme (PYP)

Primary Years Programme (PYP)

Beaumaris North Primary School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School authorised to teach the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). It is an internationally recognised programme and provides the framework for implementing the Victorian Curriculum.

The aim of all IBO programmes is to develop internationally minded people who recognising their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help create a better and more peaceful world.

The Primary Years Programme is a programme of teaching and learning that focuses on the education of the whole person emphasising intellectual, emotional, social, and physical growth whilst also involving the traditions of learning languages, humanities, mathematics, sciences and the arts. In order to promote this development you will see there is an emphasis on recognising and developing the attributes of the IB Learner Profile in conjunction with acknowledgment of the demonstration of particular Attitudes. The ‘Learner Profile Action Board’ is a focal point in each classroom.

International Baccalaureate Mission Statement

The International Baccalaureate (IB) aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

For more information, please visit the IB website.

IB Learner Profile

The ‘Learner Profile’ and ‘PYP Attitudes’ are displayed in every classroom and around the school along with the School values – Essential Agreement on a variety of topics including expected classroom and playground behaviour.

IB learners strive to be:

Learner Profile

Inquirers	We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.
Knowledgeable	We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.
Thinkers	We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.
Communicators	We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.
Principled	We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.
Open-minded	We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.
Caring	We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.
Risk-takers	We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.
Balanced	We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives˛intellectual, physical, and emotional˛to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.
Reflective	They give thoughtful We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.

See Whole School IB Learner Profile Focus

Action in the PYP

Action in the PYP is initiated independently by the student as a result of the learning process. Action extends the student’s learning or may have wider social impact depending on the age of the student. We celebrate ACTION every day in our classrooms. Students respond to their learning by bringing in artefacts, photos, books and many other items in response to what they are learning in the classroom. Sometimes we don’t see the action that occurs because it may happen at home or in the community. ACTION may take different forms and may be taken by an individual or by a group of students. Responsible action may occur through caring for our environment or raising money for a particular cause – but most importantly it is instigated by the student. Action may also be demonstrated through a sense of responsibility and respect for self, others and the environment.

Reference: Making the PYP Happen: A curriculum framework for international education. Please visit the IBO website for further information.
The Five Essential Elements of the PYP
The acquisition of essential knowledge.

The mastery of skills.

Development of conceptual understanding.

Demonstration of positive attitudes.

Taking of responsible action.
Year 6 PYP Exhibition
In the final year of the IB PYP program, students participate in a culminating project known as the Exhibition. Students are required to engage in a collaborative transdisciplinary inquiry process that involves them in identifying, investigating and offering solutions to real-life issues or problems. The PYP exhibition has a number of key purposes:

For students to engage in an in-depth, collaborative inquiry.

To provide students an opportunity to demonstrate independence and responsibility for their own learning.

To provide students with an opportunity to explore multiple perspectives.

For students to synthesize and apply learning of previous years and to reflect upon their journey through the PYP.

To provide an authentic process for assessing student understanding.

To demonstrate how students can take action as a result of their learning.

To unite the students, teachers, parents and other members of the school community in a collaborative experience that incorporates the essential elements of the PYP.

To celebrate the transition of learners in the primary to secondary education.
Programme of Inquiry
At the heart of the PYP Philosophy is a commitment to structured Inquiry as the leading vehicle for learning. Inquiry is the process initiated by the students or the teacher that moves the students from their current level of understanding to a new and deeper level of understanding.

The students at BNPS will approach Inquiry in a variety of ways:

Exploring, wondering and questioning

Experimenting and playing with possibilities

Making connections between previous learning and current learning

Making predictions and acting purposefully to see what happens

Collecting data and reporting findings

Clarifying existing ideas and reappraising perceptions of events

Deepening understanding through the application of a concept

Making and testing theories

Researching and seeking information

Taking and defending a position

Solving problems in a variety of ways.

In the process the student will:

Gain knowledge that is relevant and of global significance

Develop an understanding of concepts, which allows them to make connections throughout their learning

Acquire transdisciplinary and disciplinary skills

Develop attitudes that will lead to international-mindedness

Take action as a consequence of their learning.

Six transdisciplinary themes provide the framework for Inquiry Learning:

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.

Transdisciplinary Themes

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
An inquiry into the nature of the self; beliefs and values; personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health; human relationships including families, friends, communities, and cultures; rights and responsibilities; what it means to be human.	An inquiry into orientation in place and time; personal histories; homes and journeys; the discoveries, explorations and migrations of humankind; the relationships between and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations, from local and global perspectives.	An inquiry into the ways in which we discover and express ideas, feelings, nature, culture, beliefs and values; the ways in which we reflect on, extend and enjoy our creativity; our appreciation of the aesthetic.	An inquiry into the natural world and its laws; the interaction between the natural world (physical and biological) and human societies; how humans use their understanding of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on society and on the environment.	An inquiry into the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities; the structure and function of organizations; societal decision-making; economic activities and their impact on humankind and the environment.	An inquiry into rights and responsibilities in the struggle to share finite resources with other people and with other living things; communities and the relationships within and between them; access to equal opportunities; peace and conflict resolution.

2023 Programme of Inquiry by Year Level

Units of Inquiry

Students explore the six transdisciplinary themes through Units of Inquiry throughout the year. The Units of Inquiry that your child will be exploring each term are available in our Year Level Information and posted on Compass as they commence. An update on the Units of Inquiry being explored is also provided each term in our Curriculum News.

BNPS Primary Years Program Policy