Community is an integral part of Oaks Primary Academy’s curriculum.
Our pupils need to understand and engage with their local community before they can consider the global community in the context of becoming internationally-minded. Therefore, we ensure that pupils have regular opportunities to familiarise themselves with the local area and the people who live and work here. Through their learning, they come to understand the history and geography of the area, as well as being introduced to individuals and organisations local to them who may be able to offer help, support or advice to themselves or their families.
At OPA, we make use of the expertise and resources around us so that our pupils can also learn from their community. We have regular visitors in school who introduce pupils to new ideas, who inspire them, who support them, who teach them new skills and who act as positive role models in the community.
As a result of the development of the Learner Profile Attributes and the promotion of agency and action, pupils are instilled with a sense of social responsibility. We work with pupils, parents and families to collaborate on projects and initiatives that improve their lives and the lives of the local community. During normal schooling times, families are regularly invited into Oaks Primary Academy to join in with our learning.
International Mindedness
International-mindedness is central to the IB mission and is a foundational principle to its educational philosophy; it is at the heart of the continuum of international education.
International-mindedness is a view of the world in which people see themselves connected to the global community and assume a sense of responsibility towards its members. It is an awareness of the interrelatedness of all nations and peoples, and is a recognition of the complexity of these. Internationally minded people appreciate and value the diversity of peoples, cultures and societies in the world. They make efforts to learn more about others and to develop empathy and solidarity towards them to achieve mutual understanding and respect (Oxfam 2105; UNESCO 2015).
Primary Years Programme (PYP) learners and their learning communities have a range of perspectives, values and traditions. The concept of international-mindedness builds on these diverse perspectives to generate a sense of common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet.
Hear what our pupils have to say about working with their link school in Malawi.
International Community
International-mindedness is central to the IB mission and is a foundational principle to its educational philosophy; it is at the heart of the continuum of international education.
International-mindedness is a view of the world in which people see themselves connected to the global community and assume a sense of responsibility towards its members. It is an awareness of the interrelatedness of all nations and peoples, and is a recognition of the complexity of these. Internationally minded people appreciate and value the diversity of peoples, cultures and societies in the world. They make efforts to learn more about others and to develop empathy and solidarity towards them to achieve mutual understanding and respect (Oxfam 2105; UNESCO 2015).