Curriculum Guide · Ages 3–12

The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP)

How the PYP teaches through inquiry, what its six themes are, how children are assessed and how to judge whether it suits your child.

Read time: 8 min

The Short Answer

The PYP is the IB programme for children aged 3 to 12, covering early years and primary school.
Children learn through inquiry: asking questions, investigating and taking action, instead of mainly memorizing facts.
Learning is organized around six themes that cut across subjects, such as how the world works and sharing the planet.
Assessment is continuous and varied. It uses projects, presentations, portfolios and reflection, and the programme ends with a student-led Exhibition.
It leads on to the IB Middle Years Programme, although children can move to other curricula afterward.

What Is the PYP?

The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework for children aged 3 to 12. It focuses on the whole child: academic learning, social and emotional wellbeing, and the development of curious, caring learners who engage with their community and the wider world. Teachers guide children to ask questions, explore ideas and make connections between what they learn and real life.

It is the first stage of the IB continuum, followed by the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the Diploma Programme (DP). Some schools teach the PYP from age 3, and others only for the primary years, so check the age range at your school.

Key Features of the PYP

What defines the PYP

Inquiry-based learning: Children explore concepts, ask questions and solve problems, which builds understanding and critical thinking.
Transdisciplinary approach: Language, mathematics, science, social studies and other subjects are linked through overarching themes.
Global perspective: Children explore local and global issues and learn to respect different cultures, building international-mindedness.
Student agency: Children have a voice and choice in their learning and take ownership of it, including taking action on what they learn.
Holistic development: The programme supports academic, social and emotional growth together.

The PYP Curriculum Framework

Each year, children explore units of inquiry built around six transdisciplinary themes. Schools combine them with subject teaching so that children also build solid skills in language and mathematics.

The six themes

Who we are: Identity, beliefs, health, relationships and what it means to be human.
Where we are in place and time: How people and places connect across history and geography.
How we express ourselves: How we discover and share ideas, feelings, culture and creativity.
How the world works: The natural world, science and how technology affects society.
How we organize ourselves: Communities, systems and how people work together.
Sharing the planet: Rights, responsibilities and sharing finite resources with others.

Subject areas

Subjects are taught both within units of inquiry and, where needed, on their own.

Language: Reading, writing, speaking and listening in the language of instruction, and learning additional languages.
Mathematics: Number, measurement, shape and data, with a focus on understanding.
Science: Understanding the natural and material world through investigation.
Social studies: People, places, history and communities.
Arts: Visual arts, music, drama and dance.
Personal, social and physical education: Health, wellbeing, movement and relationships.

The IB Learner Profile

The PYP develops the ten attributes of the IB Learner Profile: inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective. These attributes shape how children learn and behave, and help them handle challenges with confidence and empathy.

Assessment in the PYP

How children are assessed

Continuous assessment: Teachers observe and collect evidence of understanding through projects, presentations, discussions and reflective journals.
Little reliance on external exams: Children do not sit IB examinations in the PYP, and the emphasis is on showing understanding and taking action. Schools may still use their own tests alongside, so ask about this.
Portfolios: Many schools keep portfolios of work that show progress over time, shared with parents in conferences.
The PYP Exhibition: In the final year, children work together on an in-depth inquiry into a real-world issue and present what they have learned.

The PYP Classroom

Student-centered learning. Children work in groups and alone on hands-on projects, while teachers act as facilitators.
Collaboration. Children explore different perspectives and ideas with their peers.
Flexible curriculum. Schools can add local context and culture, so a PYP school in Guangzhou can include Chinese language and culture.

Benefits and Trade-offs

What the PYP offers and asks

Curiosity and critical thinking: Children learn to ask questions and look for answers, rather than relying on rote memorization.
Global outlook: International-mindedness and respect for others are built into everyday learning.
Continuity: The PYP fits into the IB continuum, and IB schools around the world teach it, which helps families who move.
Less exam practice: Children who go on to exam-based systems such as IGCSE may need support to adapt. Ask the school how it prepares them.
Varies by school: Schools shape how the PYP looks in practice, so quality depends on the school and its teachers.

PYP or British Primary?

How primary programmes compare

The best match is often the programme your child will follow at secondary school.

IB Primary Years Programme (PYP): Inquiry-based, with six themes, ages 3 to 12, leading to the IB MYP and Diploma.
British primary: Structured Year-by-Year learning leading to IGCSE and A-Levels. See the British primary guide and the EYFS guide for the early years.
American elementary: Kindergarten to Grade 5 with a core of English, mathematics, science and social studies. See the American curriculum guide.

Accreditation and Quality

A school must be authorized by the IB to offer the PYP. Authorization means the school follows IB standards for teaching, learning and assessment. Because IB World Schools use the same framework, it is usually easier to transfer between them, although each school adapts the programme in its own way. Always confirm that a school is authorized and ask which programmes it teaches.

The Role of Parents

Stay in touch. Talk to teachers regularly and take part in conferences and school events.
Read the portfolio. Look through your child's portfolio and ask your child to explain their work.
Support inquiry at home. Ask open questions, visit places together and let your child follow their interests.
Back the Exhibition. Encourage your child during the final-year project without doing it for them.

The PYP for Families Moving to Guangzhou

Check the ages and years. Some schools teach the PYP from age 3 and others only for the primary years. Ask which ages are covered and what follows.
Confirm authorization. Only IB World Schools authorized for the PYP can offer it, so ask the school and check the IB's school search.
Ask about joining mid-year. Units of inquiry run through the year, so ask how new children are welcomed, how the school finds out what they have already learned, and which grade they will join.
Ask about Chinese and English. Check how Chinese is taught and what help is available for children who are new to English.
Compare the early years. If your child is under 6, see EYFS vs IB PYP in Guangzhou. For what comes next, read the MYP guide.

Questions to Ask a PYP School

Is the school authorized to teach the PYP, and for which ages?
How does the school support individual learning needs and children learning English?
How does the school teach core skills such as reading and mathematics within the PYP?
How do teachers track and communicate student progress?
What service and real-world projects are part of the programme?
How does the school help children move on to the MYP or another curriculum?

Is the PYP Right for Your Child?

The PYP suits children who are curious, enjoy projects and questions and learn well through discussion and exploration. It also suits families who value a global outlook and plan to continue in the IB or want a program that is easy to move between IB schools. Families who prefer a more structured, subject-by-subject approach in the primary years may prefer British primary. For help comparing schools, read Choosing an International School in Guangzhou: Parent Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions About the PYP

What does PYP stand for?: PYP stands for Primary Years Programme, the IB programme for children aged 3 to 12.
What ages does the PYP cover?: Ages 3 to 12. Some schools teach it from age 3, while others offer it only for the primary years, so check each school.
What are the six PYP themes?: Who we are, where we are in place and time, how we express ourselves, how the world works, how we organize ourselves, and sharing the planet.
Does the PYP teach reading and mathematics?: Yes. Language and mathematics are core subject areas, taught within units of inquiry and, where needed, separately.
What is the PYP Exhibition?: A student-led project in the final year in which children investigate a real-world issue in depth, usually in groups, and present what they have learned.
Are there exams in the PYP?: Children do not take IB examinations in the PYP. They are assessed through continuous work such as projects and presentations, although some schools use additional tests.
How is the PYP different from British primary?: British primary teaches subjects in a structured, year-by-year way, while the PYP is inquiry-based with learning organized around themes. The PYP also leads into the IB MYP and Diploma, and British primary leads into IGCSEs and A-Levels.
Can my child move from the PYP to another curriculum?: Yes. Children move on to the MYP, IGCSE, American schools and others. Ask the school how it supports the transition.
Is the PYP recognized worldwide?: The PYP is part of the IB and taught in IB World Schools around the world, which can make transfers easier. It is a primary programme, not a university entry qualification.
Which schools in Guangzhou offer the PYP?: Ask each IB school which programmes it is authorized to teach, and use the IB's school search to confirm. Our school profiles list curricula where available.