The Road to IB PYP Authorisation: A Community Journey
At St Peters Springfield, we continue to make remarkable progress on our journey toward authorisation as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, delivering the Primary Years Programme (PYP). While our official authorisation will occur later this year, the steps we have taken so far reflect our deep commitment to educational excellence, community partnership, and student-centred learning.
Since becoming a Candidate School in late 2023, our staff and community have engaged wholeheartedly with the IB framework, which aligns with our College's mission of Excellence in Christian Co-education. The PYP promotes a holistic, inquiry-driven approach to learning that supports the development of knowledgeable, compassionate, and globally-minded young people—values that resonate deeply within our College community.
Key milestones in our journey include:
- Gaining IB Candidate School status, a formal recognition of our alignment with IB philosophy and readiness to pursue authorisation.
- Establishing a whole-school Programme of Inquiry, collaboratively designed to ensure engaging, meaningful, and transdisciplinary learning experiences.
- Embedding the IB Approaches to Teaching and Learning, with a strong emphasis on student agency, conceptual understanding, and real-world application.
- Delivering consistent professional learning, including participation in staff attending IB workshops, weekly collaborative sessions, and leadership development.
- Refining assessment practices to ensure they support student growth, voice, and reflection.
- Consultant visit late last year provided an opportunity to share our accomplishments and make a targeted action plan forward.
- Preparing for our Verification Visit, which will assess our readiness and affirm our implementation against the IB Standards and Practices.
- Engaging our families and wider community through open communication, information evenings, learning exhibitions, and regular updates on our PYP implementation.
This progress has only been possible thanks to the incredible efforts of our Primary Years staff. Their dedication, professionalism, and openness to new ways of teaching and learning have been the foundation of our journey. I extend my heartfelt thanks to each of them for their tireless work and unwavering commitment to our learners. Ms Susan Allenspach (Primary Years Curriculum Coordinator) and Ms Sarah Gunn-Glazebrook (Head of Learning and Innovation) have been integral in this accomplishment.
As we continue toward formal authorisation, we remain focused on deepening our practices, strengthening our inquiry culture, and ensuring every student is empowered to learn with purpose and passion. This journey reflects who we are as a community and affirms our mission to deliver Excellence in Christian Co-education while preparing our students for a life of purpose in every classroom, every day.
Thank you for walking this journey with us.
Mrs Lia Sabri
Head of Primary Years
