Inspired by Knowledge, Driven by Action: The Grade 5 PYP Exhibition

The Grade 5 PYP Exhibition (PYPx) represents the ultimate culmination of the primary school journey. It is a vibrant celebration of our students as High Performance Learners, marking the end of an intensive eight-week inquiry process and their transition into independent, action-oriented advocacy. Under the theme "Inspired by Knowledge, Driven by Action" students explored diverse global and local topics—titled ‘Around The World’, ‘Maths Mystery’, ‘Sweet Dreams’, ‘Innovation Station’, ‘Wild World’, ‘ The Wonders of Science’, ‘The Power of Sport’ and ‘Health Hub’. The Exhibition is a demonstration of how our students can shape and improve the world together.

A Multidisciplinary Display of Knowledge

This year, the level of academic and creative depth was truly outstanding. Students showcased their expertise through a powerful fusion of writing, art, and technology, creating a living museum of inquiry. Students had the opportunity to bring their ideas to life through a variety of hands-on experiences and expert-led workshops.

• Green Screen Technology: Under the supervision and guidance of Mr Radford, students underwent specialist training to produce professional-grade adverts for their topics using green screen technology. 

• 3D Design and Printing: Mr Lemoine led sessions that allowed students to prototype solutions and create physical representations of their ideas using our Hi!Ai 3D printer. 

• Music and Song Writing: Students collaborated with Mr Martin to compose an original song called ‘The Great Inquiry’. 

• Knowledge through Movement: Using drone technology, students filmed "human typography," using their bodies to spell out key messages to encourage action. Thank you to Ms Yorke for her support with supporting the students with this project.

• Multilingual Inquiry: Reflecting our international community, students also showcased their research through French language pieces. Supported by Mme Nestel and Mme Spina, students demonstrated that their knowledge transcends language barriers, presenting their findings with bilingual confidence. 

In Their Own Words

The students’ reflections highlight the intensity and joy of the PYPX journey:

“To me, the exhibition is wild! It’s like a jungle full of the amazing, extraordinary work we have completed, and when it all comes together, it’s like a beautiful sea of work.

“I choose 'opportunities' as one of my key words to describe this journey. The exhibition is full of new opportunities, and you have to be a real risk-taker to meet deadlines and collaborate with your group.

The Power of Mentorship

A vital component of the PYPx journey is the collaboration between students and their staff mentors. This year, we were incredibly grateful to our dedicated mentor team who met with the students weekly over the course of six weeks.These mentors provided a bridge between different departments and the Grade 5 classroom, acting as guides and sounding boards. The impact of this partnership was best expressed by the students themselves in their reflections:

“Thank you for leading us through our journey... You helped us become stronger and more confident leaders.

“We want to thank you for your help and advice... You helped us with our communication skills, helped us understand more about this unit, and helped us stay on track.

By encouraging their most ambitious ideas and providing expert advice, the mentors helped the students push their research further. This collaboration ensured that students returned to their classrooms after each meeting with a renewed sense of drive, motivation, and professional insight.

Grade 5’s Fabulous Fun Fair Fiesta: Taking Action

A major highlight of the 'Action' component was the Fun Fair Fiesta. The students were responsible for every stage of the event, from designing and pitching interactive stands to managing them for our younger Primary students.

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported this event. Following a school-wide vote, The Animal Fund was chosen by the community to receive the final donation. We are proud to be donating 421 euros to this worthwhile cause, proving that even small acts can create meaningful change.

HPL and the Learner Profile

The PYPX is the ultimate "stress test" for High Performance Learning (HPL). Throughout the process, students demonstrated remarkable inquiry and leadership, showing resilience when research got tough and collaboration when projects became complex.

Every student embodied the IB Learner Profile, acting as Thinkers during weekly sessions with Staff Mentors, Communicators when presenting to the community and Caring global citizens.

A Celebration of Community

The final Exhibition day was a high-energy celebration where we welcomed parents, staff, and peers to witness this display of knowledge. We were particularly impressed by the depth of the students' inquiries and their ability to answer complex questions.

“As one student wisely reflected: I know it’s hard, but you have your teachers, mentors, and friends by your side. Don’t give up, and remember: you will always find gold after the rainbow. The rainbow is the exhibition journey, and the gold is the amazing memories and the exhibition day itself.

A huge thank you to all the mentors, experts, and families who supported the students throughout this journey. We are very proud of Grade 5's hard work and commitment—well done!