A distinctive feature of the IB Primary Years Programme is the six transdisciplinary themes.

These themes are about issues that have meaning for, and are important to, all of us. The programme offers a balance between learning about or through the subject areas, and learning beyond them. In a PYP school the traditional timetables with subjects being taught in isolation and knowledge being the key factor are not apparent. The six themes of global significance create a transdisciplinary framework that allows students to "step up" beyond the confines of learning within subject areas.

           Where we are in place and time
           How we express ourselves
           How the world works
           How we organize ourselves
                       Sharing the planet

The six transdisciplinary themes help teachers to develop a programme of inquiries–in-depth investigations into important ideas, identified by the teachers, and requiring a high level of involvement on the part of the students. These inquiries are substantial, provoke deep thinking and usually last for several weeks.

The Taught Curriculum

Inquiry learning is the core methodology used in PYP schools. The taught curriculum considers what is significant, relevant and engaging for the students. In the PYP it is believed that students learn best when they are actively engaged in their own learning by investigating issues after formulating their own questions and then proceeding with research, experimentation, observation and analysis that will help them to find solutions. This does not mean that the skills of literacy and numeracy are not considered, as these are required to support ongoing inquiry, but these skills are developed within the context of the units of inquiry.

Assessment is an important part of each unit of inquiry as it both enhances learning and provides opportunities for students to reflect on what they know, understand and can do. The ongoing teacher feedback to the students provides the guidance, the tools and the incentive for them to become more competent, more skillful and better at understanding how to learn.

Students are provided with opportunities and tools to regularly demonstrate their skills, knowledge and conceptual understanding during each unit of inquiry. This information is used by both the teachers to guide them to the level of individual development and the students as a form of self- reflection.  At the end of each unit of inquiry students demonstrate their enduring understanding of the unit by engaging in a summative assessment activity.

Assessment is ongoing and progress is reported to parents through;

3 Way Conference ; in the first term where students, parents and teachers sit together to plan individual goals and strategies for each child for the forthcoming year.

Written Report; at the end of each semester

Student Led Conference; during the third term where students share their learning and experiences with parents in the authentic setting of the classrooms and specialist areas.

Home Portfolio Conference; at the end of each semester, where students reflect on their progress through work samples in the student portfolio.

At Al Jabr Islamic School, students from Pre-K to grade 5 engage in the PYP. All teachers receive regular training to support the implementation of the programme and the outcomes are closely monitored from both within the school and the externally, through school visits from the IB through the Asia Pacific office.