The Primary Years Programme (PYP) prepares students from kindergarten to grade 5 (ages 4 to 12) to become active, caring, lifelong learners who demonstrate respect for themselves and others and have the capacity to participate in the world around them.

It focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both within and beyond the classroom. The units of inquiry feature the homeroom teacher collaborating with specialist teachers in physical education, visual arts, music and Japanese to support the development of the whole child.

To bring the PYP programme to a conclusion, students in grade five complete and present an extended, in-depth, collaborative project known as the PYP exhibition. OIS has been authorized to deliver the PYP curriculum since 2004.

For more information, please see the Elementary School page, or contact the PYP Coordinator at OIS.

PYP Coordinator

Trevor Jones

PYP Coordinator & PHE Teacher

CONTACT

The Middle Years Programme, which forms the basis of our curriculum from grades 6 through 10, is a framework of eight subject groups that encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world. The programme aims to develop active learners and internationally minded young people who can empathize with others and pursue lives of purpose and meaning. It empowers students to inquire into a wide range of issues and ideas of significance locally, nationally and globally, and the result is young people who are creative, critical and reflective thinkers.

The framework also includes:

• Approaches to learning (ATL), helping students learn how to learn by developing skills for research, critical and creative thinking, communication, collaboration, and self-management. A breakdown of expectations by grade level is available here.
• Key and related concepts, helping students explore big ideas that matter
• Global contexts, helping students understand the relevance and importance of their study for understanding their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet.

A map of the MS and HS curriculum is available here.

The MYP culminates in a personal project, Students complete a significant piece of work over an extended period of time, which consolidates much of their learning throughout middle school, and helps prepare the students for the final two years of high school, when they study for the OIS high school Diploma and, in most cases, the IB Diploma.

OIS has been authorized to deliver the MYP curriculum since 2004. OIS does not participate in the optional eAssessment program offered in the MYP.

Progression from grade 10 to high school is dependent upon achieving course credits, completing the personal project, and all coursework in grade 10.

For more information, please see the Middle & High Schools page, or contact the MYP Coordinator at OIS.

MYP Coordinator

Kelly Deklinski

MYP Coordinator; MYP/DP Music Teacher

CONTACT

The Diploma Programme (DP) studied in grades 11 and 12 (ages 16 to 18), “aims to develop students who have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge – students who flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically” (ibo.org). It is in our opinion, the best preparation for success in university studies. The students will develop independence and critically think for themselves which will aid them in their post university careers and prepare them for the global economy. OIS also has support for students coming into the DP from other types of curriculum.

OIS has been authorized to deliver the DP since 1991 and in our 30 years of cohorts completing the exams, we have an average score of 33.77, which is well above the worldwide average and a pass rate of 95.5%. 

The curriculum is made up of the DP core and six subject groups. The DP core elements which compulsory are as follows:

• A Theory of Knowledge class that provides an opportunity for students to reflect on the nature of knowledge similar to a epistemology course.
• The Extended Essay which is an independent, self-directed piece of research, culminating in a 4,000-word paper that is assessed both in-school and by independent external examiners. This gives the students an experience of university-level research project.
• Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) provides students structured opportunities to develop as a whole person. They will develop creativity through the arts,  a healthy lifestyle through physical exertion and volunteer in the community to support the disadvantaged in our society.

OIS offers the following main courses in the six subject groups: