In the previous Prep Talk I outlined the mission of the IBO and how it corresponds to our mission at Newington College Lindfield. The thinking behind this is that we want our boys to be themselves at their best. It is our responsibility as adults, teachers and parents, to assist our boys to achieve this.

The IBO has developed a set of guidelines for all students participating in the PYP (Primary Years Programme) to help them achieve this – the Learner Profile and Attitudes. Class teachers refer to the Learner Profiles throughout the units of inquiry but how do they help our students be themselves at their best – to believe in themselves, have their own identity and to be authentic in all they say and do?

The Learner Profile underpins everything that is taught and demonstrated at NCL. It is the foundation upon which our students learn, and we all support, model and promote its core values. We all strive to be: Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled, Open Minded, Caring, Risk Takers, Balanced and Reflective.

The Learner Profile outlines the qualities and attributes we endeavour to instil in each student. It highlights the life skills needed to equip our boys with the knowledge and dispositions to promote intercultural understanding, and a will to make the world a better place.

We teach and encourage cultural diversity, sustaining the planet and problem solving for peaceful solutions. We empower students to be inquirers, thinkers, communicators to use their skills to find out about the world in which we live. Our students are knowledgeable, principled, open-minded, caring, balanced and risk-takers, and they are also encouraged to have a voice in the world. Our students become internationally minded and are equipped to make decisions which will contribute effectively to life in the 21st century.

The behaviours encouraged and qualities demonstrated will look different at each stage of schooling, and even between each child. Individual diversity is fostered and valued, and so there are many ‘right’ ways for our students to embrace the Learner Profile philosophy.

It is vital that there is also a focus on development of personal Attitudes towards people, towards the environment and towards learning, attitudes that contribute to the wellbeing of the individual and of the group. PYP students demonstrate: Appreciation, Commitment, Confidence, Cooperation, Creativity, Curiosity, Empathy, Enthusiasm, Independence, Integrity, Respect and Tolerance. These attitudes are related to the Learner Profile with each being identified within each description.

If we teach, talk about and model each of the learner profiles and their attributes we will undoubtedly have boys that are themselves at their best who believe in themselves, have their own identity and are authentic in all they say and do.

Sue Gough – Teacher/Librarian/PYP Co-ordinator