Brighton Primary delivers a high standard of education to its students through the Primary Years Program (PYP) of the International Baccalaureate (IB) in conjunction with the outcomes of the Victorian Curriculum. To support students in their learning we offer Individual Learning Improvement Plans, a range of digital learning tools in all areas and access to the extension programs run by the Gateways organisation.
High levels of literacy and numeracy are essential if students are to build their skills, knowledge and understandings in all domains and at all stages of learning. Students need to understand and use specialised vocabulary, use and create texts, problem solve and organise, and interpret and represent data. While literacy is developed primarily in the English domain and numeracy is developed primarily in the Mathematics domain, these capabilities must be reinforced, strengthened and integrated in all domains and at all stages of learning.
Brighton Primary School offers a specialist program including: Performing Arts, Sport & Physical Education, French and Visual Arts.
To learn more about what is happening in each grade level and specialist area, visit our fortnightly snapshot page here
The International Baccalaureate primary years program
Brighton Primary School was authorised as an IB World School towards the end of 2006, after successfully implementing the Primary Years Program (PYP). The 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. The ‘learner profile’ encourages students to strive to be:
- Inquirers
- Knowledgeable
- Thinkers
- Communicators
- Principled
- Open-minded
- Caring
- Risk-takers
- Balanced
- Reflective
What is the IB primary years program?
The IB PYP is for students in the primary years. It encompasses best practice and research from a range of international education systems. The PYP is inquiry-based and provides a curriculum framework with core learning areas of language, social studies, mathematics, arts, science and personal, social and physical education. The PYP is assessed against the Victorian Curriculum.
Why has Brighton Primary School adopted the PYP?
Brighton Primary School has a commitment to continually improve the learning outcomes of its students. The PYP, with its strong focus on academic, social and emotional and physical skills will equip our students for the future. In addition, an inquiry-based approach ensures that learning for our students leads to deep understanding, the development of critical thinking skills and an ability to view the world from a global perspective.
How does the PYP work?
In the PYP a balance is sought between acquisition of knowledge and skills, conceptual understanding, demonstration of positive attitudes and the taking of authentic and responsible action. There are five ‘essential elements’ of the PYP:
- Knowledge
- Concepts
- Skills
- Attitudes
- Action
Six transdisciplinary themes of global significance provide the framework
of study every year:
- Who We Are
- Where We are in Place and Time
- How We Express Ourselves
- How We Organise Ourselves
- Sharing the Planet
- How the World Works
These ‘themes’ become the basis for our Units of Inquiry. Each unit focuses on different parts of the essential elements. Over the course of every year, students will have many opportunities to thoroughly explore the five essential elements.
Additionally, these units incorporate all elements from the Victorian Curriculum:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- The Humanities
- The Arts
- Critical and Creative Thinking
- Technologies
- Health and Physical Education
- Languages
- Ethical, Intercultural, Personal and Social capabilities
How are students assessed?
The school has a comprehensive assessment schedule to ensure effective monitoring of student learning. Students are assessed against the learning outcomes of the Victorian Curriculum. Semester progress reports are delivered in June and December. In addition, students showcase their learning through mini-exhibitions to which the school community are invited. The Grade 6 exhibition synthesises the five essential elements and represents a significant events and the culmination of learning for our students.
Further information can be located at http://www.ibo.org/programmes/primary-years-programme/
References: Making the PYP Happen, International Baccalaureate (2009)