International Primary Curriculum (IPC)

The International Primary Curriculum (IPC) focusses on Geography, Art, Science, History, Music and Technology. Subjects are linked together in units or themes. Each unit of work has a theme that our children find interesting and relevant. Linking subjects means that children can make lots of connections with their learning. We know that the more connections that the brain can make, the better a child can learn.

Units of Learning

We know that children learn best when they want to learn. That’s why all of the IPC’s thematic units of learning are designed to appeal to children’s interests and help them to learn more about the world around them. Themed units help children to see how subjects are both independent and interdependent. This enables them to see the big picture of their learning, make connections across different subjects, and talk about a topic from multiple perspectives.

Themes studied in each year group can be seen in the table below. Each unit of work lasts on average between four and eight weeks and children learn many of their subjects through this one common theme so that their learning has meaning to them.

The IPC focuses children’s learning on a combination of knowledge, skills and understanding. No one can properly predict the nature of work and life opportunities that will be available for today’s primary age children by the time they are adults. Many of the jobs they will have don’t yet exist; especially in the fields of ICT, technology and science. So the IPC focuses on a skills-based approach, developing adaptable and resilient globally-minded learners, prepared for the fast-changing world that they’ll be living and working in. The development of skills therefore, is a very big part of the IPC and learning activities have been designed so that children can develop these skills.

Personal Learning Goals

This development of skills applies to the personal learning goals which emphasizes adaptability, resilience, thoughtfulness, cooperation and respect and which, as a result of progressive skill development, help children to become able and inspired learners. At St. Michael’s International School our personal learning goals are made up of:

Four Personal Skills: communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking.

Seven Values: respect, responsibility, compassion, tolerance, endeavour, honesty and integrity

Learning Process

The IPC has been designed for children of all abilities and all learning styles, and encourages learning in groups as well as individual learning and contributes to our goal of improving leaning for all students. The IPC has a clearly defined learning process which is repeated through each unit of learning.