The IPC is a cross-curricular, thematic, creative curriculum that incorporates much of the new research into learning styles. Learning with the IPC takes a global approach; helping children to connect their learning to where they are living now as well as looking at the learning from the perspective of other people in other countries. At the very heart of the IPC is a clarity about what children should learn. It covers many of the subjects that one would expect to find in a broad-based primary curriculum and develops a growing understanding of the unique features of each subject, whilst also illustrating their interdependence. There are specific learning goals for every subject, for international mindedness and for personal learning.

At the very heart of the IPC is a clarity about what children should learn. There are specific learning goals for every subject, for international mindedness and for personal learning.

Subject learning goals are written in one of three different ways:

• ‘Knowledge’ refers to factual information. (The capital of Qatar is Doha.) Knowledge is relatively straightforward to teach, even if it is not always easy to recall.
• ‘Skills’ refers to things children are able to do. (I can carry out an investigation in science, read a map or research a book.) Skills have to be learned practically. The IPC is an active, practical curriculum for much of the time.
• ‘Understanding’ refers to the consideration of big ideas. Understanding is always developing. None of us ever ‘gets there’. (Try saying ‘I understand the idea of beauty’.) Understanding cannot be taught. Instead we provide a whole range of different experiences through which children’s understandings can deepen.

These learning goals are carefully aligned with the outcomes of the National Curriculum of England and ensure our students have a broad, but balanced learning programme that prepares them for their move to secondary education.

‘International mindedness’ asks children to look beyond their host country and home country borders to see how different countries are interconnected, and attempts to engage students in dialogue and understanding about living in different countries.

Personal learning goals ensure children are taught in such a way that they become adaptable, ethical, resilient, empathetic, respectful, thinkers, communicators, and collaborators.

Units of Work

In the IPC learning is split into themed units of work. These units have been written and titled to appeal to children. We do not just do ‘geography’ in the IPC. We may look at some geographical aspects of ‘The Olympics’ or ‘Holidays’ or ‘Fitness’. Children are more likely to be excited by a theme that they recognise from their world rather than by anything else. Within most units children will explore a number of subjects. These may include art, geography, history, ICT, music, PE, science, society, technology, personal and international.

You can find out more about The International Primary Curriculum here.