IB Primary Years Programme (PYP)

Welcome to the globally minded community of OTR International School’s bilingual IB Primary Years programme, a student-centered, inquiry-based approach to education for children aged 4-12. We provide high-quality education in a multinational and multicultural environment, supporting each student in reaching their full potential while valuing their individual talents and learning styles. The IB PYP Curriculum nurtures and develops young students as caring, active participants in a lifelong journey of learning.

Our school follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) philosophy, promoting academic excellence, critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and the development of responsible global citizens. Students grow as independent learners, building strong research, communication, and collaboration skills.

Learn more about IB PYP at ib.org

The Main Elements of PYP Education

Learner Profile
The learner profile is one of the cornerstones of the IB program. This list of ten attributes, found in all IB World Schools, helps students become internationally minded people. It invites children to become adults aware of the influence they have on their community locally and internationally, while measuring their role in building a better and more peaceful world.

Key concepts
A powerful vector of learning, it encourages the construction of meaning and understanding, and encourages students to think about important ideas.

Transdisciplinary themes
Working on transdisciplinarity means making sure to rely on several disciplines to build varied transversal skills. The year is divided into six transdisciplinary themes which allow students to look at the world around them with greater depth and understanding.

Programme of inquiry
The programme of inquiry articulates how the transdisciplinary themes will be explored across the different age groups.

IB PYP at OTR

Achieve bilingual fluency in French & English. At OTR International School, the PYP framework is enriched through a bilingual and personalised educational pathway tailored to our international community. For Preschool our students have daily immersion in French & English with two teachers in each classroom, both native speakers of the languages. Our primary students also benefit from two teachers, one for each language including both a grammatical English and French class. Regarding other courses, humanities subjects are taught in French, while Science and Math are taught in English.

With small class sizes and a personalised approach, teachers provide close academic guidance while supporting each student’s personal growth and achievement throughout the PYP Programme. We are able to provide specialized classes even through preschool and primary years, including: Theatre, Visual Arts, Sports, Computer Science, Library

For preschool – Playful, hands-on learning aligned with IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). Safe, bright spaces promoting autonomy and discovery.

For primary – Transdisciplinary lessons linking subjects and real-life learning aligned with IB Primary Years Programme (PYP. Hands on opportunities nurturing curiosity, critical thinking, and global-minded learners.

Our approach to differentiated teaching enables us to tailor learning to the needs of each pupil, by offering appropriate challenges, personalised support and a variety of strategies based on their level, language profile and learning style. In practical terms, this means that teachers adjust:

  • the working methods (individual, group, guided, independent).Why choose OTR?
  • the level of complexity of the activities;
  • the materials used;
  • the pace of learning;
  • the working methods (individual, group, guided, independent).