Primary Years · Ages 6–11

Primary Years that build strong foundations for big futures.

At The Pupil (Forms 1–5), learning brings together the IB Primary Years Programme’s inquiry-based, transdisciplinary framework and EPIC, our own approach to each child’s progress.

  • Ages6 to 11
  • ClassesForm 1–5
  • ProgrammeIB Primary Years (PYP)
A girl smiling at her desk in her Primary Years classroom.

Our Primary Years Programme takes children from Form 1 to Form 5, ages 6 to 11. Guided by the IB Primary Years Programme, children build strong foundations in reading, writing and maths, and learn to ask questions, find answers and connect what they learn to the world around them.

A boy laughing beside his paper rocket, with a friend next to him.

What makes it different

Learning they put
to real use.

A boy reading a book at his desk.

LanguageReading the world around them

Children read every day, write for people who will really read it, and share their ideas out loud with confidence.

Two girls playing chess at a classroom table.

MathematicsMaths they can use

Number, shape and data come alive through games, puzzles and real problems, like a game of chess or measuring for a project.

Boys explaining the globe model they built.

ScienceAsking how things work

Children make predictions, test them and explain what they saw, from how plants grow to how the Earth moves around the Sun.

Boys looking closely at a paper model they built.

Social studiesUnderstanding their community

Children learn about people, places and the past, starting with their own neighbourhood and widening out to the world.

A girl drawing at her desk, with coloured pencils beside her.

ArtsIdeas made visible

Drawing, music and drama give children new ways to show what they think, feel and understand.

Two boys cheering together outdoors.

Physical, social and personal educationHealthy, kind and confident

PE, games and teamwork build strong bodies, good friendships and the courage to try something new.

EPIC begins in the Primary Years

Their time. Their space.
Their way of learning.

IB gives us the curriculum framework. EPIC is how we support each child within it. Children plan their independent learning time and choose how, where and with whom they learn, while clear goals and teacher guidance keep them moving forward.

A teacher and a girl looking over her work together.
  1. Know myself.

    What interests me? Where do I need help? Children learn to notice how they learn best.

  2. Own my time.

    Children decide how to use their independent learning periods, with clear goals for the week.

  3. Choose my space.

    A quiet corner, a shared table or a computer within reach. Children find a place that suits the work.

  4. Find my next step.

    Practise what still needs work. Move ahead when ready. Teachers guide every step.

How learning works

Questions lead
the way.

In the Primary Years, learning starts with a question. Each unit of inquiry runs for about six weeks and explores one big idea across subjects. Children use what they already know, investigate, try things out and reflect, then show what they have understood at the end of the unit.

Teachers give feedback all along the way, and your child’s work is kept in a ManageBac portfolio you can follow from home. In Form 5, children bring everything together in the PYP Exhibition, an inquiry they lead themselves.

A girl thinking about a question at her desk.
THE IB PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMMEINTERNATIONAL-MINDEDNESSWHO WE AREWHERE WE ARE IN PLACE AND TIMEHOW WE EXPRESS OURSELVESHOW THE WORLD WORKSHOW WE ORGANISE OURSELVESSHARING THE PLANETLANGUAGESOCIAL STUDIESMATHEMATICSARTSSCIENCEPSPEAGENCYACTIONEXHIBITIONTHE IBLEARNERPROFILEApproaches toteaching and learning

The IB Primary Years Programme

How the PYP
fits together.

The IB draws the whole programme as one picture. Start at the centre and work out, ring by ring.

  1. The learner profile

    At the centre is your child, and the qualities we hope they grow into.

  2. Agency, action and the Exhibition

    Children have a voice in their learning and act on what they discover.

  3. Six subject areas

    Strong foundations in every subject, from language to physical education.

  4. Six transdisciplinary themes

    Big ideas that every unit of inquiry is built around.

  5. International-mindedness

    Respect for other cultures, languages and points of view.

The week at a glance

A week in
Primary Years.

A real Form 1 week from our 2026–27 timetable. Homeroom periods are led by the class teacher, and specialist teachers take languages, science lab, arts and sport.

Time
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
8:30–9:30 AM
Hindi
Hindi
Art
Homeroom
Taekwondo
9:30–10:00 AM
Snack break
10:00–11:00 AM
Science lab
Sports
Homeroom
Music
Homeroom
11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Homeroom
Homeroom
Homeroom
Gym
Hindi
12:00–12:30 PM
Lunch
12:30–1:30 PM
Tamil
Homeroom
Hindi
Homeroom
Homeroom
1:30–2:30 PM
Homeroom
Homeroom
Homeroom
Tamil
Computing and robotics
2:30–3:30 PM
Yoga
Homeroom
Homeroom
Homeroom
Homeroom
  1. 8:30–9:30 AMHindi
  2. 9:30–10:00 AMSnack break
  3. 10:00–11:00 AMScience lab
  4. 11:00 AM–12:00 PMHomeroom
  5. 12:00–12:30 PMLunch
  6. 12:30–1:30 PMTamil
  7. 1:30–2:30 PMHomeroom
  8. 2:30–3:30 PMYoga

Form 1, section A. Each section’s week differs slightly, and timetables can change during the year.

Outcomes

What growth looks like.

Video stories coming soon.

Students examining a paper model.

Exercises choice

Video coming soon
Two students playing chess.

Curiosity in action

Video coming soon
Two students cheering outdoors.

Growing together

Video coming soon

One learning journey

Explore the
other stages.

Early
Years

Explore

Ages 3–6 · Step 1–3

Where curiosity gets its first big questions. Children learn through purposeful play.

A young girl laughing in her Early Years classroom.
THE PUPIL INTERNATIONAL

Middle
Years

Explore

Forms 6–10 · IB MYP

Ideas meet the wider world. A time to think critically and find your perspective.

A Middle Years student writing on the board.
THE PUPIL INTERNATIONAL

Diploma
Programme

Explore

Forms 11–12 · IB DP

Go deeper into what matters to you. Prepare for university and the possibilities beyond.

A Diploma student explaining his robot project.
THE PUPIL INTERNATIONAL
Let’s make it a little clearer

Before your child
joins us.

Talk to admissions
A girl smiling during a class activity.
Which forms are in the Primary Years?
Forms 1 to 5, for children aged about 6 to 11. Our admissions team will confirm the right form for your child’s date of birth.
What is a unit of inquiry?
A block of about six weeks that explores one big idea across subjects, under one of the six IB themes. It ends with a task where children show what they understand.
What is EPIC?
IB is our curriculum framework. EPIC is The Pupil’s approach to supporting individual progress, subject by subject: strong foundations where a child needs them, and a new challenge when they are ready.
How is my child assessed?
Teachers check understanding all through each unit, with regular feedback and reflection. Each unit ends with a summative task, and there are no high-pressure exams.
What is the PYP Exhibition?
In Form 5, children choose an issue they care about, research it in a small group with a mentor, and share what they found and the action they took with the school community.
My child is coming from CBSE or another board. Can they join?
Yes. Children can join in any form. Our team will get to know your child, see where they are and help them settle into learning through inquiry.
How do we apply?
Start with the interest form below. Our admissions team will call you, explain the next steps and help you find the right form for your child.
The Pupil International School campus in Chennai.Our campus · Chennai
Admissions

Start with
a conversation.

Interested in learning more about The Pupil? Talk to our admissions team and plan a campus visit.

For a campus visit, please contact our admissions team. We’ll be happy to help you plan your visit.

Email admissions
Senneerkuppam, Chennai

Video coming soon.

In their own words

EYP Story

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