The IB is a non-profit educational foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland which offers four high-quality and challenging educational programmes for a worldwide community of schools
The IB Career-related Certificate, the Diploma Program (final 2 years of school), the Middle Years Program (11- 16 years of age) and the Primary Years Program (3 – 12 years of age). In 2012 ANI became accredited as an IB world school. We receive regular Professional Development from IB facilitators and have scheduled review visits every four years. Our latest report following the 2016 review can be found here.
At ANI we use the Primary Years Programme (PYP) which is a curriculum framework designed for students aged 3–12. It focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world outside. It provides an educational framework based upon what is currently known about how young students learn and draws on best practice in primary schools worldwide.
The PYP framework is guided by six Transdisciplinary Themes of global significance, explored using knowledge and skills with a powerful emphasis on inquiry-based learning. In this context the meaning of the word ‘transdisciplinary’ means across all subject areas and connecting learning to the world around us.
The six Transdisciplinary Themes that are covered in a year are: Who we are; Where we are in place and time; How we express ourselves; How the world works; How we organise ourselves and Sharing the planet.
All areas of learning at ANI will be integrated into the Transdisciplinary Themes including the Specialist subjects.
The reasons we have adopted the IB framework are because:
- students gain a global view on the world
- it parallels the New Zealand Curriculum
- our staff are provided with world renowned Professional Development
- IB combines the best research and practice from around the world
- innovative curriculum resources are readily available
- it provides another quality control mechanism
- there is an emphasis on global networking for teachers and students.
PYP Exhibition
In Year 8 all students participate in the Primary Years Programme Exhibition. This is a consolidation of what the students have learnt during their time in the programme, and shows their understanding of five essential elements: knowledge, skills, concepts, attitudes, and action. It is a collaborative inquiry that gives the students an opportunity to identify a real life issue, investigate this, and offer solutions. Although it is conducted by the students, the whole school community, and some of the local community, are involved in varying aspects.
The Exhibition is a very exciting and challenging time for the Year 8 students. Every year they manage to astound the teachers and the community with what they have learnt, and the high quality of their exhibits.
International Baccalaureate Terminology
What is a Transdisciplinary Theme?
Within the International Baccalaureate Programme there are six overarching themes. The themes are: Who we are; Where we are in place and time; How we express ourselves; How the world works; How we organise ourselves and Sharing the planet.
These themes help guide teachers as they plan and design transdisciplinary (combining two or more subject areas) units of inquiry. Within these units, children are encouraged to ask questions, are taught how to use a variety of resources to seek answers and led to a deeper understanding of the theme being studied. The Primary Years Programme seeks to create students who are not bound by the physical borders of their community. Instead it works to study broad topics that can have an application in any part of our world.
Click here to view our 2021 School Wide IB Transdisciplinary Theme Overview and Programme of Inquiry.
What is a Central Idea?
What are Concepts?
The Primary Years Programme (PYP) has a set of eight Key Concepts which answer the question, “What do we want the students to learn?” Two Key Concepts will be selected for each Unit of Inquiry to help drive the curriculum:
Form – What is it like?
Function – How does it work?
Causation – Why is it like this?
Change – How is it changing?
Connection – How is it connected to other things?
Perspective – What are the points of view?
Responsibility – What is our responsibility?
Reflection – How do we know?
These eight fundamental concepts, expressed as key questions, fuel the process of inquiry.
What is a Line of Inquiry?
Abbreviations
| IB | International Baccalaureate |
| IBO | International Baccalaureate Organisation |
| PYP | Primary Years Programme |
| POI | Programme of Inquiry |
| UOI | Unit of Inquiry |
Glossary of Terms
Action
An explicit expectation of the PYP is that successful inquiry will lead to responsible action, initiated by the student as a result of the learning process.
Attitudes
The attitudes PYP planning aims to develop are; appreciation, commitment, confidence, cooperation, creativity, curiosity, empathy, enthusiasm, independence, integrity, respect and tolerance.
Central Idea
The central idea should be written as one sentence that expresses concisely an enduring understanding. It should be substantial enough to generate in-depth inquiries, be concept driven and promote the ability to think critically. It is the core of the unit of inquiry.
Curriculum
The PYP curriculum is divided into three components; the written curriculum, the taught curriculum and the assessed curriculum.
Essential Elements
Is an overall heading for the concepts, knowledge, skills, attitudes, and action.
Enduring Understanding
Refers to the important ideas that are central to a unit that can be transferred to different situations often beyond the classroom. In thinking about enduring understanding for a unit, teachers are encouraged to ask ‘What do we want students to understand and be able to use several years from now, after they have forgotten the details.’
International Baccalaureate
An organisation promoting and developing programmes of international education. There are three programmes. The Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme.
Key Concepts
Key concepts are selected to focus each unit of inquiry. They include form, function, causation, change, connection, perspective, responsibility and reflection.
Learner Profile
The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who strive to be inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective.
Lines of Inquiry
These define the scope of the central idea for each unit.
Primary Years Programme
The IB primary years programme is aimed at children from age 3-12.
Programme of Inquiry
The units of inquiry collectively constitute the schools programme of inquiry. It is an overall picture of the units covered at each year level within that school. Teacher questionsThe teachers have the responsibility to frame the inquiry at the beginning of the unit, through the questions that they ask.
Transdisciplinary Skills
Within their learning and throughout the programme students acquire and apply a set of transdisciplinary skills. These include social skills, communication skills, thinking skills, research skills, and self-management skills. These skills are valuable, not only in the unit of inquiry, but also for any teaching and learning that goes on in the classroom and in life outside the school.
Unit of Inquiry
Developed from the schools programme of inquiry and encompasses the planning, teaching and learning that takes place in a unit. Six units of inquiry are covered each year.
Specialist programme
Integrated learning through Specialist Programmes
- Digital, Technology and The Arts (Visual Art, Music and Performing Arts)
- Languages (Japanese, French and Te Reo Maori)
- Science
- Physical Education
Technology and The Arts
ANI offers a unique learning environment for students to explore their ideas in Technology and The Arts.
Practical projects are integrated with what the students are learning. Classroom teachers join students in the specialist areas and have an active and collaborative role in their learning. The specialist programme allows students to choose which area they would like to work within to develop their idea and demonstrate their understanding of the central idea. They have full control of how they will undertake answering inquiry questions. Teachers are facilitators within these spaces moving through the process with them.
Students will cover each of the six areas of Technology and the Arts over their two years at ANI.
Languages
Science
Physical Education
Students have the opportunity to experience Physical Education, taught by our specialist P.E. teacher once a week for their two years at ANI. This curriculum area fosters critical thinking and action that enables students to understand the role of physical activity for individuals and society. The programme is integrated with the International Baccalaureate programme and focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world outside. The emphasis is on:
- Learning through and about movement
- Learning to understand, appreciate and move their bodies
- Relating to others and demonstrating constructive attitudes and values
- Learning through play, games, sport, exercise, recreation, adventure and expressive movement
- Promotion and development of physical and social skills
- Participation in diverse physical and social skill