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Introduction to the Cambridge International Primary Programme

The Cambridge International Primary Programme gives schools a framework to develop Mathematics, English and Science skills and knowledge in young children. The Primary Programme provides guidance for curriculum development and classroom teaching and learning, and allows teachers to assess children's learning as they progress.

The Cambridge International Primary Programme consists of a number of components that fit together to provide schools with tools they can use to help their students acquire knowledge and skills.
 
The Cambridge International Primary Programme comprises:
 
The Cambridge Primary Curriculum Framework
  To help develop high quality programmes for teaching young children English, Mathematics and Science.
   
The Cambridge Primary Progression Test
 
Available for the last four years of primary education and deigned to allow teahers to folow the progree of their students over time and analyse performance within their classes and against an external benchmark.
   
The Cambridge International Primary Achievement Test
 
To be taken by students at the end of their final year of primary education. CIE will moderate this test and issue students with Statements of Achievement.
 
CIE's comprehensive Primary Teacher Support Resources - available to schools to support the implementation and teaching of the Cambridge International Primary Programme. CIE offers a planning booklet, teacher-training, schemes of work, recommendations for published access to online resources and international discussion groups.
 
 
Key Benefits:
 
Preparation for Secondary Education
 
The Cambridge International Primary Programme is an excellent preparation for the next phase in a student’s educational career. It aids identification of a student’s strengths and weaknesses and can be used to support learning and development. The Cambridge International Primary Programme progresses students seamlessly into middle years curricula, such as Cambridge Checkpoint and IGCSE.
   
External Beanchmark
 
The Primary Programme provides teachers with an external benchmark to assess their teaching and easily measure students' progress over time. It also allows detailed, structured reporting to parents.
   
International Curriculum
 
The Primary Programme is appropriate and relevant internationally and can blend with other curricula. The Primary Programme has been designed to be culturally sensitive and includes top-quality teaching and assessment resources involving appropriate contexts for teaching and learning in local and international schools.
 
The Primary Programme is designed to be flexible and to complement a range of teaching methods and curricula. No part of the Primary Programme is compulsory and centres are at liberty to choose the parts that best suit their situation. A school can choose to adopt the whole programme, following the suggested schemes of work and using the recommended teaching resources; or a school can choose simply to use the Progression Tests to guide teaching and student development.
 

Primary Curriculum Framework

The Cambridge Primary Curriculum Framework identifies a comprehensive set of learning objectives for English, Mathematics and Science for each year of primary education. It forms the core of the Cambridge International Primary Programme. The Primary Curriculum Framework provides a natural progression through six stages of primary education, from stage 1 when children first enter primary education (at the approximate age of 5) to stage 6 when they usually move on to secondary education (at about age 11). The Curriculum Framework provides a valuable structure that focuses on what children should be able to do at each of the primary stages.
 
 

Cambridge Primary Progression Tests

The Cambridge Primary Progression Tests provide valid external assessment of knowledge and skills in English and Mathematics. The tests:
 
Are available for primary stages 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Are optional (schools can choose any quantity of tests to take or just follow the curriculum without testing at all)
Can be used at any point during the year and as many times as the teacher requires.
Are culturally sensitive without being culture-free, which makes them ideal for use in the international school context
Comprise structured questions with a selection of item types including matching, short answer and longer answers
 
The teacher marks the tests; full mark schemes and marking guidance are provided for this.
 

Analysis Tool:

This tool allows teachers to track student progress and to produce diagnostic feedback.
 
Allows comparison between individuals and between groups of students
Facilitates the identification of the strengths and weaknesses of individuals and groups
 
 

Primary Achievement Test

The Cambridge International Primary Achievement Test is for students at the end of their final year of primary education. The test is available in three core subjects: English, mathematics and science, and:
 
Is marked by teachers
CIE will moderate a sample of scripts, process the results and issue students with Statements of Achievement
Is available in June and November each year
Can be taken at any point within a fixed period of time
 
The first live examination took place in November 2005.