The IB programme aims to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world. We encourage and support children to take action in their learning and to apply their knowledge and understanding in a wider context.
Upper Primary
Welcome to St Mark’s Upper Primary School.
As students move into the Upper Primary, we continue to build on the strong foundation established in the Lower Primary. Our programme challenges the students to grow as learners. By the end of Year 8, we want them to be ready and able to take the next step, secure in the knowledge of who they are and what they do best.
Learners in the Upper Primary will be:
- Wondering, questioning, and researching
- Gathering data and reporting findings
- Adopting and justifying a point of view
- Using a range of thinking skills to understand a concept
- Making and testing theories
- Experimenting and exploring possibilities
- Solving problems in a variety of ways
- Working in collaboration with others
- Becoming independent inquirers
At St Mark’s, we appreciate that each student brings their unique understandings, perspective and knowledge. Teachers in the Upper Primary structure learning experiences designed to meet the different needs of each student, whilst challenging them to grow as a learner.
Students are encouraged to make connections between school, home and the wider world. They explore local, national and global perspectives in their units of inquiry. In order to do this well, they work collaboratively, sharing diverse experiences and further developing their social skills.
Learning at St Mark’s promotes and values social interaction and inclusive practices. This supports learning, tolerance, respect and understanding.
Learners are encouraged to emulate the attributes of the IB learner profile in order to become: inquirers, thinkers, communicators and risk-takers and to be knowledgeable, principled, caring, open-minded, balanced and reflective. They develop these attributes within the homeroom and specialist classes, during assemblies and Chapel services, in the playground and while participating in St Mark’s many extracurricular activities.
