"The curriculum is all learning, academic and non-academic, that is written, taught and assessed." Making the PYP Happen, 2007.
Current practice
Staff at North Ainslie Primary School currently work in collaborative teams to develop units of inquiry. (See Inquiry Approach for detail).
Our Primary Years Program is a transdisciplinary P-6 curriculum that is designed to be engaging, relevant, challenging and significant. The program seeks to achieve a balance between five essential elements: the acquisition of essential knowledge and skills, the development of conceptual understanding, the demonstration of positive attitudes and values, and the taking of responsible action.
Whenever we plan curriculum we ask three key questions as a community of learners:
- What do we want to learn? (the written curriculum)
- How best will we learn? (the taught curriculum)
- How will we know what we have learned? (the assessed curriculum)
Future Directions
In 2011 the implementation of Phase One of the Australian National Curriculum commenced in all Australian schools, for English, mathematics, science and history. In 2013 the national curriculum for geography was published. National curriculum for the arts, languages, civics and citizenship, economics and business, health and physical education, and technologies has also been published and is awaiting endorsement. Our program of inquiry aligns with the content of both the Australian National Curriculum and Every Chance to Learn: Curriculum Framework for ACT Schools P-10 (ACTDET, 2007).
Curriculum Initiatives 2015-2018
Curriculum initiatives will address the school's strategic priorities for 20015-2018.
To embed an explicit school improvement agenda driven by data analysis to improve student outcomes in literacy, numeracy and science.
To develop an expert teaching team.
To promote a safe, inclusive and respectful learning environment.
To embed the targeted use of school resources to support all students.
- The school will focus on the establishment of a strong coaching culture in which students and teachers are provided with effective feedback based on clear data analysis.
- All teachers will engage in ongoing professional development to build professional capacity: addressing the National Teacher Quality Standards, the International Baccalaureate's Primary Years Program, Growth Coaching, literacy and numeracy.
- All teachers will continue to work with the Australian National Curriculum, reviewing documents to align with the International Baccalaureate's Primary Years Program.
- Literacy will be taught both explicitly and through the program of inquiry, using the key characteristics of effective English teaching, to enhance literacy outcomes for all students.
- An inquiry based mathematics program will be embedded in practice, using the key characteristics of effective mathematics teaching, to enhance numeracy outcomes for all students.
- A Response to Intervention model will continue to be implemented to address students' academic, social and emotional needs. This includes intensive reading intervention in the early childhood years.
- The school's Reconciliation Action Plan (2009) will be reviewed, to ensure understanding of Aboriginal culture and to affirm Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- The school will continue to teach care of our planet through units of inquiry, expanding our recycling program, addressing our Master Plan and working with the school's Green Team.
- The school will continue to address health and well-being through our Restorative Practices and KidsMatter Frameworks, program of inquiry, and the Healthy Eating Hub (HeHub).