This guide introduces the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), a globally recognized framework designed to enhance your child’s learning journey. We delve into its philosophy, structure, and unique features, providing practical advice to help you actively engage in your child’s education.

What is the IPC?

The IPC is a child-centred, internationally recognised curriculum for children aged 5–11. It emphasises thematic, engaging, and integrated learning experiences while fostering personal and international understanding.

Key Features

The IPC cultivates a love for learning, builds confidence, and equips children to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Thematic and Creative: Units are designed around captivating themes like “Toys,” “Rainforests,” and “Mission to Mars,” sparking children’s curiosity and imagination.
Integrated Learning: Subjects such as science, geography, and history are interconnected, helping children see how knowledge aligns across disciplines.
Skills-Based: Focuses on enquiry, critical thinking, and the practical application of knowledge.
International Mindedness: Encourages respect for cultural diversity while helping children build their own sense of identity.
Personal Development: Instills adaptability, resilience, and cooperation, preparing students for lifelong learning and global citizenship.
Brain-Friendly and Fun: Lessons are engaging, challenging, and tailored to how children learn best.

Diagram Idea: Visual representation of the IPC pillars: Academic, Personal, and International Learning.

Why Choose?

The international Curriculum (IPC) aligns with our school’s mission to nurture lifelong learners who excel academically, socially, and emotionally. It combines academic rigour with personal growth and global perspectives.

Benefits

Encourages Global Awareness: Helps children explore their own culture and heritage while appreciating others.
Promotes Holistic Development: Balances academic learning with essential life skills like communication, adaptability, and collaboration.
Incorporates Innovative Approaches: Caters to diverse learning styles, ensuring all students have opportunities to succeed.
Creates Meaningful Connections: Links knowledge to real-world situations through integrated thematic units.

Learning Goals

The IPC is organized into Mileposts, each catering to specific age groups: Milepost 1: Years 1–2 (ages 5–7), milepost 2: Years 3–4 (ages 7–9), milepost 3: Years 5–6 (ages 9–11)

Each Milepost encompasses three types of goals:

Subject Goals: Build knowledge, skills, and understanding in areas like science, geography, and art. Example: Create maps using pictures and symbols (Geography).
Personal Goals: Cultivate qualities such as resilience, cooperation, and adaptability. Example: Demonstrate resilience by trying again after failure.
International Goals: Foster global perspectives and an understanding of cultural interdependence. Example: Identify cultural differences and value them equally.

How Do IPC Units Work?

Each International Primary Curriculum (IPC) unit follows a structured approach to guide children’s learning:

Key IPC Terms:

Entry Point: A creative start to the unit, often involving hands-on activities.
Knowledge Harvest: Reflective activities to uncover prior knowledge and guide new learning.
Exit Point: Culminating events showcasing children’s learning to families.

Assessment in the IPC

The IPC employs a skills-based assessment framework, focusing on children’s developmental stages:

Features of IPC Assessment

Emphasizes skills progression rather than memorization.

Encourages self-assessment to foster motivation and understanding.

Evaluates key subjects such as science, geography, history, ICT, and international mindedness.

Diagram Idea: A chart showing the progression from Beginning → Developing → Mastering.

How Can Parents Support IPC Learning?

Subject Highlights

Art: Children receive 1–2 hours per week of art, integrated into IPC themes. Lessons foster creativity while achieving subject and personal learning goals.

Music: Weekly music lessons enhance teamwork, memory, and abstract thinking, guided by the IPC and National Curriculum (England).

PE: Children participate in 1–2 hours of physical activity weekly, promoting health, fitness, and resilience.

Our curriculum: Curriculum

Useful Resources for Parents

International Primary Curriculum (IPC) Official Website: www.internationalprimarycurriculum.com

School Resources: Keep an eye out for unit letters and school updates to stay informed.

The IPC transforms education into an exciting, engaging, and globally relevant journey for your child. By partnering with teachers and supporting your child’s learning at home, you can help them unlock their full potential.

IPC stands for International Primary Curriculum. It is a global learning programme for children from ages 5 to 11 years old that utilises “thematic units”. Teachers will use the child-friendly themes as an anchor, allowing students to connect their learning with the external environment as well as between subjects. The IPC Learning Goals are:

Knowledge– what children will know

Skills– what children will be able to do
Understanding– what children will be able to understand

At the heart of IPC is its reflective Learning Process. For example, through a small session called “Knowledge Harvest” at the beginning, teachers will find out what students already know. After that, they will adapt the lesson plan to create effective classroom activities. IPC learning requires students to stay proactive, hands-on and relevant to the world.

Children learn best when they want to learn. At Anne Hill Primary School, we encourage children to self-inquire. They are given opportunities to solve problems independently or with their peers. This helps to stimulate curiosity and excitement of students while learning. Through IPC’s focus on international-mindedness, our teachers at AHI will make sure that students are constantly exposed to areas of interests that will prepare them for the future and global community.