“The IB continuum of international education for 3-19 year olds is unique because of its academic and personal rigour. We challenge students to excel in their studies and in their personal growth. We aim to inspire a quest for learning throughout life that is marked by enthusiasm and empathy.”
At CISH, our students learn through three programmes under the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme Framework, Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). CISH stands as one of the first and only recognized IB Continuum Schools in Anhui, China.
Primary Years Programme
At the Canadian International School of Hefei (CISH), students aged from 3-12 learn through the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP).
We see the Early Years (ages 3–6) as a time of joy, curiosity, and incredible growth. These years are not just a preparation for later schooling, but an important stage of learning and development. Children in K1–K3 explore Units of Inquiry that connect subjects with real-world experiences, helping them see learning as an exciting, interconnected journey. K1 and K2 engage in four units, while K3 takes on five to prepare for the next stage of learning.
Students in Grades 1–5 continue their journey through a transdisciplinary, inquiry-based approach, and connect their learning across subject areas while developing skills that prepare them for lifelong learning. Alongside inquiry, children develop skills in Mathematics, Language Arts, Music, PSPE, Art, and an additional language, guided by both homeroom and specialist teachers. Creativity, imagination, and communication are encouraged through symbolic play, stories, and hands-on experiences.
Each year, students engage in six Units of Inquiry, carefully designed to build conceptual understanding, foster curiosity, and promote action. Central ideas and lines of inquiry guide students to explore meaningful, real-world contexts and make connections across disciplines. Our curriculum outcomes align with the New Brunswick curriculum and are further developed through the IB scope and sequence documents.
Above all, the PYP programme emphasizes agency, collaboration, and international-mindedness, helping learners grow not only as knowledgeable students but also as caring, principled members of a global community.
At CISH, we have re-developed our curriculum to create our school's Programme of Inquiry (POI). The POI is the foundation of the Primary Years Programme, in addition to the New Brunswick Curriculum from Canada. From our POI, you will see the six transdisciplinary themes from which each unit of inquiry has been developed.
The Six Transdisciplinary Themes are:
Who We Are
How We Express Ourselves
How the World Works
How We Organise Ourselves
Where We Are in Place and Time
Sharing the Planet
Middle Years Programme
The Middle School years (Grades 6, 7, and 8) are a vital stage in a student’s development within the IB continuum. These years mark the transition from the Primary Years Programme (PYP) in elementary school to the Middle Years Programme (MYP), and represent both academic and personal growth for our learners. As students enter Middle School, they step into a more self-managed learning environment. Instead of being taught by one teacher, they now work with a range of specialist teachers across different subjects. This shift encourages them to take greater responsibility for their learning, time management, and adaptability to different teaching styles, which are important skills they need as they move into the Diploma Programme (DP) and life beyond school.
The Middle School years are vital links that bridge the knowledge between PYP and DP, where students experience a transformative period and begin to see themselves as independent learners, critical thinkers, and young adults. With the right balance of challenge and support, we guide them through this stage with confidence, preparing them for the greater successes in the Diploma Programme and beyond.
Central to the MYP experience is the emphasis on service and action. Throughout the middle years, all students actively participate in meaningful service projects, cultivating a sense of responsibility and a commitment to making a positive impact in their communities.
Diploma Programme
The Diploma Programme is a two-year course of study for students in grades 11 and 12. It stresses academic rigour and life skills, while promoting international mindedness and the IB learner profile attributes. Along with the challenging content, the importance of effective study skills and work habits is reinforced. These skills and habits are crucial for success at the post-secondary level.
During the last two years of their academic life here at CISH, the students enjoy the DP programme. The Diploma Programme (DP) curriculum comprises six subject groups and the DP core, which includes theory of knowledge (TOK), creativity, activity, service (CAS), and the extended essay.
