Learning at St Columba's

What is an IB Education?

Last Friday, our staff, classroom teachers, LSOs, specialists, and leadership, came together for professional learning as we prepare for our next IB Evaluation in 2026. This process will invite input and feedback from our whole school community, helping us reflect on our journey as an International Baccalaureate (IB) school.

Many families often ask: what does it really mean to be an IB PYP school?

An IB education is built on four key elements:

• International-mindedness

  Encourages openness to the world and recognition of our interconnectedness. Students develop intercultural understanding through multilingualism, global engagement, and service.

   

• The IB Learner Profile

  Guides the development of learners who are inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective. These attributes nurture curiosity, compassion, resilience, and responsibility.

   

• A Broad, Balanced, Conceptual and Connected Curriculum

  Learning crosses disciplinary, cultural, and national boundaries. In the PYP, students explore six transdisciplinary themes of global significance, such as Who we are and How we express ourselves. Each IB programme also includes a culminating project, such as the PYP Exhibition.

   

• Approaches to Teaching and Learning

  Teaching is inquiry-based, concept-driven, collaborative, inclusive, and connected to local and global contexts. Students build skills in thinking, research, communication, social interactions, and self-management to become confident, self-directed learners.

   

Together, these elements aim to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help create a better and more peaceful world.

What is an IB Evaluation?

Every five years, IB World Schools take part in an evaluation. This is not a critique of the school, but an appreciative inquiry that allows the school to dive into rich reflection. 

The Evalutation process allows us to:

• Celebrate our strengths
• Identify areas where we can continue to grow
• Involve teachers, students, leaders, and families in shaping our journey
•  

The goal is simple: to ensure our students are thriving as lifelong learners in the Primary Years Programme.

Learning Together as an IB Community

When the IB first introduced the PYP in 1997, what we now know as the Learner Profile was originally called the Student Profile. The shift to “Learner” was made to reflect the belief that learning is a lifelong journey shared by students, teachers, parents, and the whole school community.

A wonderful way to demonstrate this to your child is by exploring what an IB education means. The IB offers free resources for families, including videos and short learning modules on it’s free public website.

To explore the free learning, simply head to ibo.org and navigate to the Professional Learning tab, click on Free Learning from the left-hand menu, then select PYP Learning Resources and PYP Nano Resources.

If you would like to chat further about what it means to be part of an IB World School, please don’t hesitate to reach out, I would value the opportunity to talk with you.

Nicole Spence

PYP Coordinator