International Primary Curriculum

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International Primary Curriculum
AbbreviationIPC
Parent organisation
International Curriculum Association
Website www.internationalcurriculum.com

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 education [1] and one of two identified programmes specifically with international education objectives. [2] 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. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents

History

The curriculum was developed in the late 1990s [7] by a group of international school educators and the support of Shell Oil's international education division [8] 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: [9]

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:

Personal learning goals

The 8 Personal Learning Goals of the IPC are:

Subject learning goals

The subjects included in the IPC subject learning goals are:

Use in schools around the world

As of 2021, the IPC is used by over 1,000 international schools in over 90 countries. [11]

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References

  1. Book: Hayden, M., Levy, J. & Thompson, J. (2015) The SAGE handbook of research in International Education. London: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2015.
  2. 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
  3. Book: International Education and Schools: Moving Beyond the First 40 Years. Hayden, M., and Thompson, J. (2013)
  4. Journal: Hayden, M., and Thompson, J. (2013) UNESCO: International Institute for Educational Planning. International schools: growth and influence. Fundamentals of Educational Planning. Vol 92.
  5. 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.
  6. Book: Taking the IPC Forward - Engaging with the International Primary Curriculum. Ed. Hayden, M., and Thompson, J. (2012)
  7. Book: Hayden, M., Levy, J. & Thompson, J. (2015) The SAGE handbook of research in International Education. London: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2015, p. 95.
  8. Book: Taking the IPC Forward - Engaging with the International Primary Curriculum. Ed. Hayden, M., and Thompson, J. (2012)
  9. Resources: IPC Curriculum Guide. Fieldwork Education. (2020)
  10. Resources: IPC Curriculum Guide. Fieldwork Education. (2020)
  11. Crystal (2021-07-29). "About". Fieldwork Education. Retrieved 2021-07-29.