IB Primary Years Programme (PYP)
The International Baccalaureate's Primary Years Programme — a transdisciplinary, inquiry-based curriculum framework for children aged 3 to 12, organised around six globally significant themes.
What is the PYP?
The Primary Years Programme is the foundation phase of the International Baccalaureate. It organises learning around six transdisciplinary themes — 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. Subjects integrate within these themes rather than being taught in silos.
How it differs from other primary curricula
Unlike CBSE or state-board curricula, the PYP places inquiry, agency and reflection at the centre of every unit. Children investigate big questions, document their thinking and present their understanding to peers. Assessment is continuous and includes a Class 5 exhibition — a year-long student-led research project.
How it relates to the Oxford International Curriculum
The Oxford International Curriculum (OIC) shares the PYP's commitment to inquiry, concept-led teaching and integrated wellbeing — but at a lower fee point and with stronger alignment to externally published Oxford resources. For parents in Warangal evaluating international frameworks, OIC offers a similar philosophy with significantly more accessibility.
Related terms
IB (International Baccalaureate)
A Geneva-based education foundation that offers four globally recognised programmes — PYP (primary), MYP (middle), DP (Class 11-12) and CP — known for inquiry-based learning and a strong research project.
Inquiry-Based Learning
A pedagogy where the lesson starts with a question or problem and students investigate, hypothesise and arrive at understanding — rather than receiving information first.
Concept-Based Curriculum
A curriculum designed around enduring concepts (change, systems, identity, balance) rather than discrete facts, so children build transferable understanding that lasts beyond the next test.