The International Primary Curriculum (IPC) is an independent programme of education for learners aged 5 to 11, cited by The SAGE Handbook of Research in International Education in 2015 as one of the three major international systems of educationBook: Hayden, M., Levy, J. & Thompson, J. (2015) The SAGE handbook of research in International Education. London: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2015. and one of two identified programmes specifically designed with international education objectives.Book: Walker, G., Hayden, M. & Thompson, J. (2002) Criteria for curriculum continuity in international education. London: Routledge, 2002. Chapter 1: Drennen, H. Criteria for curriculum continuity in international education The IPC forms part of a continuum of curricula, including the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) and the International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC), and was identified as forming a key part of the rise in international education.Book: International Education and Schools: Moving Beyond the First 40 Years. Hayden, M., and Thompson, J. (2013)Journal: Hayden, M., and Thompson, J. (2013) UNESCO: International Institute for Educational Planning. International schools: growth and influence. Fundamentals of Educational Planning. Vol 92.Journal: Bunnell, T. (2010) Journal of Curriculum Studies. Volume 42, Issue 4. The momentum behind the International Primary Curriculum in schools in England. Pages 471-486.Book: Taking the IPC Forward - Engaging with the International Primary Curriculum. Ed. Hayden, M., and Thompson, J. (2012)
History The curriculum was developed in the late 1990sBook: Hayden, M., Levy, J. & Thompson, J. (2015) The SAGE handbook of research in International Education. London: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2015, p. 95. by a group of international school educators and the support of Shell Oil's international education divisionBook: Taking the IPC Forward - Engaging with the International Primary Curriculum. Ed. Hayden, M., and Thompson, J. (2012) and was launched as a standalone international curriculum in 2000.
Curriculum design From the IPC Curriculum Guide (2020), the design of the IPC cites 7 foundations that present the curriculum as a holistic programme of education for 5-11 year-olds, separated into three 'mileposts' (5–6 years old, 7–9 years old, and 10–11 years old). The 7 foundations are listed as:Resources: IPC Curriculum Guide. Fieldwork Education. (2020) Learner-focused Personal, International and Subject Learning Goals A Progressive Pedagogy A Process to Facilitate Learning for All Globally Competent Learners Knowledge, Skills and Understanding are taught, learned and assessed differently Connected Learning Assessment for Improving Learning
Thematic units of learning The IPC is presented to schools through a number of thematic units of learning, which bring together the learning of multiple subjects associated with that theme over a 3, 6 or 9 week period. All the units follow the same Process to Facilitate Learning, which has the following stages: Entry Point Knowledge Harvest Explaining the Theme Research, Record and Reflect activities Exit Point
Personal learning goals The 8 Personal Learning Goals of the IPC are to become: Adaptable (a) Communicator (a) Collaborator Empathetic Ethical Resilient Respectful (a) ThinkerResources: IPC Curriculum Guide. Fieldwork Education. (2020)
Subject learning goals The subjects included in the IPC subject learning goals are: Art Design technology and Innovation Geography Health and Wellbeing History ICT and Computing Language Arts Mathematics Music Physical education Science
Use in schools around the world As of 2021, the IPC is used by over 1,000 international schools in over 90 countries.
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