Here, we’re nurturing students who aren’t passengers on the learning journey but active drivers, steering their way with curiosity and purpose.
Our children are faced with an increasingly challenging world. For students to navigate a complex and ever-changing society, it’s important they see themselves as global citizens who are open-minded, think about the world around them, take action for change, and contribute to a more economical, peaceful, and sustainable world.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Programmes at HVGS uses school-wide pedagogy to better develop students’ skills necessary to navigate global citizenship.
What is the International Baccalaureate (IB) PYP?
The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) is a globally recognised framework for HVGS students in Preschool - Year 6 that integrates with the Australian Curriculum.
The PYP is a leader in future-focused education, leveraging research and best practices from around the world and enriched by the collective wisdom of international schools.
At its heart, the PYP is all about nurturing the whole child; focusing on academic excellence and intellectual, emotional, social, and physical development. From languages to humanities, mathematics to sciences, and the arts, the PYP embraces the full spectrum of learning. At HVGS students think creatively, ask questions, and become active contributors to positive change—both within our School and in the wider community.
The Primary Years Programme
Why do we teach the PYP?
We wholeheartedly embrace the PYP philosophy that every child is creative, curious, caring, and unique. It is our responsibility to nurture these qualities, empowering students to reach their full potential. Our commitment to the PYP aligns closely with our core values and holistic educational aspirarion and mission for our students.
Inquiry-based learning
The beauty of the PYP lies in its inquiry-based learning approach, which sparks curiosity and empowers students to take an active role in their education. They become co-creators of their learning journey, engaging in open-ended inquiries and real-world investigations driven by their current knowledge and understanding and their desire to explore further.
Did you know that gravity weighs xxxx? Neither did XXXX in Year 6 until he posed it as a question for his class to investigate!
Student Agency
Student agency is at the heart of the PYP, playing a vital role in the learning process. It’s not just a component but a cornerstone of the programmes’s aim to foster international-mindedness. Through both individual and collective action, HVGS students learn to grasp the responsibilities of being globally aware and experience firsthand the rewards of collaborating to reach a common goal and serving others as compassionate global citizens.
Transdisciplinary Themes
The PYP at HVGS revolves around six transdisciplinary themes, which guide students’ inquiries throughout the year, alongside the Australian Curriculum. These themes include:
- 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
Through these themes, our students are encouraged to explore big questions, think critically, and apply their learning meaningfully. So whether they’re delving into the mysteries of the universe in "How the World Works" or reflecting on their own identity in "Who We Are," the PYP at HVGS sets the stage for a lifetime of learning and growth.
Year 6 Exhibition
Year 6 students undertake a collaborative, transdisciplinary inquiry process that involves them identifying, investigating and offering solutions to real-life issues or problems. The ideas and research our Year 6 students present and share at the Exhibition, will fascinate and inspire you. Take a look behind-the-scenes at the 2020 Exhibition below.
The IB Learner Profile
IB learners strive to be internationally minded people who, recognising their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world. Download a copy of the PYP IB Learner Profile which highlights these attributes in greater details.
Other IB Programmes at HVGS
Hunter Valley Grammar School is the only school in Australia authorised to offer all four International Baccalaureate Programmes. This ensures a global-focused continuum of learning for all HVGS students from Preschool to Year 12.