Welcome from our
PYP CoOrdinator
ANGELA ROBERTS
PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME COORDINATOR
Angela graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University with a degree in Retail Management, later earning her PGDE from Glasgow University in 2006. She began her teaching career in Scotland and moved to Dubai in 2008. Angela joined GEMS World Academy in 2017 and has taught across lower primary. She leads the UNSDG Junior Ambassadors Enrichment, inspiring students to explore the Sustainable Development Goals. In 2021, she became the PYP Coordinator, supporting the learning community in planning and deepening their understanding of the PYP. She recently completed her NPQSL and looks forward to further embedding the IB philosophy across the school.
Angela believes in empowering every child to flourish, guided by Helen Keller’s words: “A well-educated mind will always have more questions than answers.”
Dispositions are a set of attributes for the Learner Profile to nurture active, compassionate and lifelong learners. The Learner Profile attributes are; Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled, Open-minded, Caring, Risk-Takers, Balanced and Reflective.
Concepts are the powerful ideas that have relevance within the individual subject areas. These overarching ideas transcend individual subjects and link the programme, enabling students to explore and re-explore them to gain an in-depth, coherent understanding.
Skills are taught, as we know that in order to be lifelong learners, we must equip students with the necessary skills for learning. The skills emphasised within the programme include; thinking skills, social skills, communication skills, self-management skills and research skills.
Knowledge is explored through six subjects: Maths, English & Arabic, Social Studies, Science, PSPE, and the Arts. These are taught via six transdisciplinary themes, with integrated inquiry units. In Pre-K to KG2, four themes may be chosen per year.
Action is the final essential element, and it is the demonstration of deeper learning through responsible behaviour. Action is how students show that they have combined the other four essential elements together in their own lives, and completed something with the skills, knowledge, concepts and attitudes they have learned.
Approaches To Learning (ATL) are key skills and strategies embedded in lessons to enhance your learning. These include:
- Thinking skills
- Communication skills
- Social skills
- Self-management skills
- Research skills
We encourage you to actively improve these skills through various learning opportunities.
Transdisciplinary Learning integrates knowledge, skills, and understanding across subjects, allowing students to make real-world connections that go beyond traditional classroom boundaries. It focuses on creating transferable understandings, rather than memorising isolated facts for short-term use.