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The Road to Becoming a ‘PYP’ School
By WISS Admin | May 13, 2009
by Rachel McLeod, WISS PYP Coordinator
The Western International School of Shanghai (WISS) was the twenty-first school and one of the last International schools to be opened in Shanghai. However, it is one of only a few schools in
The recent PYP Pre-Authorization visit highlighted that WISS is a dynamic school that views learning and reflection as important for students and as values that are promoted, supported and celebrated amongst its learning community.The PYP could be summarised as a curriculum framework that is taught through an inquiry approach, with the aim of developing internationally minded students. It is a rigorous programme that is based on a set of Standards and Practices that guide schools in terms of their structures, organisation, curriculum, systems and overall teaching and learning practices. 
Schools such as WISS, which are in their “Candidacy” phase, follow a road which consists of visits from the IB: a Consultation visit, a Pre-Authorization visit and finally– usually after a process of three to four years—an Authorization visit! WISS has come a long way since its opening just under three years ago and the recent Pre-Authorization visit was positive and reaffirming. The feedback report illuminated areas of strength and provided critical guidance and steps forward for PYP Authorization (scheduled for March 2010).
Some of the strengths highlighted about WISS were: The Parent Education Programme and other educational services provided by the school. Teachers were commended for their open lines of communication and for the information they provide about units of work through weekly newsletters. The stimulating and inviting environment where examples of student work, units of inquiry and examples of action taken are displayed and celebrated across the school. The Induction system for new staff and the weekly staff professional development on aspects of the programme. Each class has a trained local teacher and a trained foreign teacher to promote English and Chinese learning and intercultural awareness. The strategies of grouping and regrouping students for a variety of learning situations. Students were seen to be working independently, in small groups, and across the different year levels.
So, armed with the IB Standards and Practices and the PYP feedback report, the staff at WISS look forward to the Authorization phase, feeling confident and proud of the hard work and incredible Programme that has been developed and built upon since the school’s inception.
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