As from August 2022, the International Preparatory School (IPS), now known as Northfields International Primary School (NIPS), became part of the Northfields family and now serves as excellent preparation for success in our Secondary School IB programmes.
NIPS is a fully authorised International Baccalaureate World School offering the (PYP) for children from Nursery till Year 6. The IB Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) is an international curriculum framework designed for children between the ages of 3 and 12 years. This programme is based on the latest educational research and believes that each child has their own personality, learning style and combination of intelligence types. Opportunity is given, within a structured framework, for students to explore their own interests and questions. PYP students are well prepared for the next stage of education, including participation in the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP).
Importantly for our young learners, the IBPYP focuses on their social, physical, emotional, and cultural needs as part of a strong academic ethos. The PYP supports students’ efforts to gain understanding of the world and to function comfortably within it, and helps them establish personal values as a foundation upon which international mindedness will develop and flourish.
INTERNATIONALISM
Internationalism is a key aspect of the PYP curriculum. The PYP supports students’ efforts to gain understanding of the world and to function comfortably within it, and helps them establish personal values as a foundation upon which international-mindedness will develop and flourish. At NIPS we are inspired by the diversity of our community and the world at large. We empower ourselves with the knowledge, skills and understanding to become true global citizens. By appreciating ourselves and one another we work towards creating and sustaining a harmonious future.
INQUIRY BASED LEARNING
Teaching methods build on students individual knowledge and interests. Inquiry, is the leading but not exclusive pedagogical approach of the PYP. It is recognised as being intimately connected with the development of children’s comprehension of the world. Inquiry is the process initiated by the learner or the teacher which moves the learner from his or her current level of understanding to a new and deeper level of understanding. This can mean:
- Exploring, wondering and questioning
- Experimenting and playing with possibilities
- Researching and seeking information
- Collecting data and reporting findings
- Clarifying existing ideas and reappraising events
- Making and testing theories
- Making predictions and acting purposefully to see what happens
- Elaborating on solutions to problems.
TRANSDICIPLINARY
The word transdisciplinary refers to connections that transcend individual disciplines. Transdisciplinary study involves the links or interconnections across disciplines. It is a reflection of the reality in which we live. A transdisciplinary concept may reach across disciplines such as Mathematics, Science, English and Social Studies, and link them all together. By definition, a transdisciplinary concept is not confined to one subject. For example, the concept of ‘change’ may feature in Mathematics, Science, English, and Social Studies. Thus ‘change’ can then be studied through the lenses of these different disciplines.
KNOWLEDGE
The PYP recognises that in an international community of learners it is inappropriate to dictate what every child should know. The PYP has identified themes, or areas of knowledge, which are used to organize the six Units of Inquiry, taught from Nursery through Year 6. These Units of Inquiry provide the framework for a wide variety of resources to be explored.
Six Transdisciplinary Themes
Who We Are: 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.
Where We Are in Place and Time: 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 civilisations, from local and global perspectives.
How We Express Ourselves: 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 aesthetic appreciation.
How the World Works: 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.
How We Organize Ourselves: 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.
Sharing the Planet: 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.
CONCEPTS
These are the seven fundamental concepts expressed as key questions, to propel the process of inquiry.
- Form: What is it like?
- Function: How does it work?
- Causation: Why is it like it is?
- Change: How is it changing?
- Connection: How is it connected to other things?
- Perspective: What are the different points of view?
- Responsibility: What is our responsibility?
IBPYP
The IBPYP Develops:
- sensitivity to the experiences of others through the curriculum
- the characteristics listed in the student profile
- the attitudes that are an explicit element of the programme
- the expectation of socially-responsible action as a result of the learning experience.