Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) at Kingston International Kindergarten
Kingston International School is the first school in Hong Kong authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate Organization - Primary Years Programme. This programme was specially developed for children ages three to twelve years. It is an inquiry-based approach to learning that is truly international in its outlook.
The Primary Years Programme concentrates on developing the whole child and values a healthy body as well as a healthy mind. The programme encourages students to be thinkers and problem solvers while nourishing the creative and caring aspects of their personalities. It is recognized internationally for its excellence and prepares students well for further studies either here in Hong Kong or overseas. Kingston International School incorporates the IBO philosophy into all aspects of school life.
The Transdisciplinary Nature of the Programme
At Kingston we acknowledge the importance of particular subject areas: language; mathematics; social studies; science; arts; personal, social and physical education.
The knowledge, concepts and skills that constitute each of these subject areas are documented in detailed frameworks—scope and sequences—that set out the overall expectations for each subject.
We also recognize that educating students in a set of isolated subject areas while necessary, is not sufficient. Of equal importance is the need to acquire skills in context, and to explore content that is relevant to students and transcends the boundaries of the traditional subjects. “To be truly educated, a student must also make connections across the disciplines, discover ways to integrate the separate subjects, and ultimately relate what they learn to life” (Boyer 1995: 82).
The programme defines transdisciplinary themes that identify areas of shared human experience and have meaning for individuals from different cultures and ethnicities. These themes are part of the common ground that unifies the learning in all IB World Schools offering the PYP. They provide the opportunity to incorporate both local and global issues in the knowledge component of the PYP written curriculum—what we want students to know about. There are six transdisciplinary themes in the PYP and kindergartens are required to cover four of these. The six transdisciplinary themes are Who We Are, How We Express Ourselves, Where We Are in Place and Time, Sharing the Planet, How We Organise Ourselves and How the World Works. Through these transdisciplinary themes our students inquire into and learn about both locally and globally important issues. These units have been developed collaboratively by our team of English and Chinese staff to ensure that they meet the needs of young learners and are a means by which key attitudes, skills, concepts, knowledge and the Learner Profile are developed.
Kingston International School
113 Waterloo Road
Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: 852 2337 9031
Email: enquiry@kingston.edu.hk