Curriculum
OSC is a full IB World school offering the IB Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme.
Primary School:
The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is for pupils aged 3 to 11, and focuses on the development of the whole child in the classroom and in the world outside. The PYP curriculum:
• Encourages international-mindedness in IB students
• Encourages a positive attitude to learning by engaging students in inquiries and developing their awareness of the process of learning so that they become lifelong learners
• Reflects real life by encouraging learning beyond the traditional subjects with meaningful, in-depth inquiries into real issues
• Emphasises, through the IB Learner Profile, the development of the whole student-physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically
PYP subjects (units of inquiry)
In Pre-school the children study four PYP units of inquiry during the course of each year, while in all other Grades, students study six PYP units of inquiry. All units are taught in a trans-disciplinary way, incorporating all disciplines and relevant skills and concepts.
The six main PYP subjects are:
• Science & Social Studies
• Language
• Mathematics
• Visual & Performing Arts
• Physical Education
• French
OSC students are also taught:
• Library skills
• Technology
Teaching
The Primary School teachers have a diverse range of nationalities. Within the Primary OSC is a “Learning Leadership Team” compposed of a Primary Years Programme Coordinator, Primary Principal, and for 2010/11 a mathematics leader (as part of a strategic focus on mathematics pedagogy). Class teachers are supported by a team of Assistant Teachers.
The school day for Kindergarten to Grade 1 students is 07.30-13.30; Grades 2-5 continue until 14.40.
Secondary School:
The IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) is designed to meet the educational requirements of students in Grades 6-10 (11–16 years of age). This holistic programme is concerned with developing intercultural awareness and strong communication skills within a framework of interrelated disciplines.
The MYP is an international curriculum framework designed to help students develop the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and skills necessary to participate actively and responsibly in a changing world. Known as the MYP, it is part of the IB continuum at OSC, linking with the Primary Years Programme and the Diploma Programme.
IB Middle Years Programme subjects
The MYP curriculum requires the teaching of eight compulsory subjects. The subject groups are:
• Arts Visual Art and Drama
• Humanities History and Geography
• Language A English- language of instruction
• Language B French, Spanish and English
• Mathematics An integrated study of the five branches of mathematics
• Physical Education Health, recreation and sports
• Sciences Integrated Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics)
• Technology The application and development of technology user skills
Areas of Interaction
Each subject group focuses teaching and learning through the five Areas of Interaction (AoI), or common themes, which connect the student to the subject groups. The Areas of Interaction provide the MYP with a lens through which to view each subject area. Teaching subject areas through these contexts allows teaching and learning to focus on attitudes, values and skills.
The IB Middle Years Programme Personal Project
The Personal Project is a long term project, consisting of a significant body of work, undertaken by all Grade 10 MYP students. It is the product of the student‘s own initiative and creativity, and should be seen as the culminating activity through which students present their understanding of real-world themes, concepts and issues using the AoIs. The finished product is presented to the whole school community on Personal Project Presentation Night. The final 1-7 MYP Grade for the Personal Project is awarded by the supervisor, an internal moderator, and in some cases, an external IB moderator.
Teaching
Within the Secondary School, OSC has a “Secondary Educational Learning Leadership Team” comprising the IB MYP and IB DP Coordinators, our Counselor, Head of Technology and the Secondary School Principal. The subject teachers are supported by a team of Department Heads.
The school day for Grades 6-12 is 07.30-14.40. On Wednesdays there is a fixed timetable with classes concluding at 13.30 to allow for teacher collaboration and planning.
Read more about this topic: Overseas School Of Colombo
Famous quotes containing the word curriculum:
“If we focus exclusively on teaching our children to read, write, spell, and count in their first years of life, we turn our homes into extensions of school and turn bringing up a child into an exercise in curriculum development. We should be parents first and teachers of academic skills second.”
—Neil Kurshan (20th century)