What this guide covers
- What the PYP is
- How the PYP teaches
- The six themes and the learner profile
- How the PYP is assessed
- The exhibition
- What it means for expat families
- Frequently asked questions
What the PYP is
The PYP is the primary school stage of the IB, designed for children roughly between the ages of 3 and 12. It is a framework rather than a fixed national syllabus, which means a PYP school shapes its own detailed curriculum within the structure and philosophy the IB sets out. The programme is used in schools all over the world, which is part of why it appeals to internationally mobile families who want some consistency if they move between countries.
Because it is a framework, two PYP schools can look different in their day to day detail while sharing the same underlying approach. Understanding that approach helps parents read what a school offers and know what stays the same if they relocate to another PYP school elsewhere.
How the PYP teaches
The defining feature of the PYP is inquiry based learning. Rather than teaching subjects in isolation, the programme organises much of the learning around units that ask children to investigate questions and ideas, drawing in mathematics, language, science, social studies, the arts and personal development as they go. The aim is for children to build understanding actively, to ask good questions and to see how different areas of knowledge connect.
In practice this means a PYP classroom often looks busy and exploratory, with children working on projects and investigations rather than only completing exercises. Skills such as thinking, communication and collaboration are taught alongside subject knowledge, and teachers guide inquiry rather than simply delivering facts.
The six themes and the learner profile
The PYP structures its inquiry around a set of broad transdisciplinary themes, covering ideas such as who we are, how the world works and how we share the planet. These themes give the programme its shape and let children explore big questions across subjects at an age appropriate level. Running through everything is the IB learner profile, a set of attributes such as being curious, principled, caring and open minded that the whole IB continuum shares.
For parents, these themes and the learner profile explain why a PYP report often talks about attributes and approaches to learning as well as academic progress. The programme deliberately values how a child learns and behaves alongside what they know.
A PYP school still teaches the basics
Some parents worry that an inquiry approach means less focus on reading, writing and mathematics. In practice PYP schools teach these core skills carefully, usually woven into the units of inquiry as well as taught directly. Ask any school how it balances inquiry with core skills, and see our IB hub for how the PYP fits the wider IB pathway.
How the PYP is assessed
Assessment in the PYP is continuous and mostly carried out by teachers, who observe and record how children are progressing rather than relying on formal examinations. There are no external exams at the end of the PYP, so reporting tends to describe what a child can do and how they are developing across subjects and skills, often supported by examples of their work. This suits the age group and the programme's emphasis on growth over ranking.
For families used to grades and tests, this can feel unfamiliar at first. It helps to see PYP reporting as a rounded picture of a young child's development, which then leads into the more structured assessment of later stages such as the Middle Years Programme.
The exhibition
A distinctive feature of the PYP is the exhibition, a project in the final year of the programme. Children work, often in groups, on an in depth inquiry into a real issue they care about, then present their findings to the school community. The exhibition is meant to bring together everything the programme has developed, from research and collaboration to communication and taking action, and it acts as a milestone before the next stage of schooling.
For parents it is often the moment the PYP approach becomes most visible, as children demonstrate independence and ownership of their learning. It is worth asking a prospective school how it runs the exhibition, since it captures the spirit of the programme well.
What it means for expat families
For internationally mobile families, the PYP offers a recognisable framework that exists in many countries, which can ease the disruption of a move between IB schools. It also flows into the rest of the IB continuum, so a child can continue into the Middle Years Programme and later the Diploma within the same broad approach. That continuity is a large part of the appeal for families who expect to relocate more than once.
When choosing a PYP school, it still pays to visit and ask how the school balances inquiry with core skills, how it reports progress, and how it supports children joining from other systems. Our guide on how to choose an international school sets out the questions worth asking.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IB PYP?
The PYP is the Primary Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate, for children roughly aged 3 to 12. It is an inquiry based framework that organises learning around broad themes rather than teaching subjects in isolation.
Does the PYP have exams?
No. The PYP uses continuous, teacher led assessment rather than external examinations. Reporting describes what a child can do and how they are developing across subjects and skills.
Does the PYP teach reading and maths properly?
Yes. PYP schools teach core skills such as reading, writing and mathematics carefully, usually both within units of inquiry and through direct teaching. Ask each school how it balances the two.
What comes after the PYP?
The PYP leads into the IB Middle Years Programme and later the Diploma, so a child can continue within the same broad IB approach. Children can also move into other systems at the end of primary.