Pilot research findings start to show the International Primary Curriculum’s links to Improving Learning

Fieldwork Education conducted research in 2018 on the perceived impact of using the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) using GL Education’s Pupil Attitudes to Self and School (PASS) measure to gain benchmarked data.

PASS is a standardised, psychometric assessment that allows students to express how they feel about themselves as learners, giving teachers the ability to intervene and ensure all students have a healthy, positive attitude to themselves and their learning. It was standardised on 600,000 children, so the results are statistically robust in measuring sensitive issues. 

We used it for an initial cohort of results from five IPC member schools selected from around the world, including Europe, Asia and North America. Pupils completed surveys, with data triangulated against global equivalences and quartiles across nine distinct areas (or factors).

The following factors, which have links to Improving Learning, were considered for further analysis:

• Perceived learning capability – This factor offers a snapshot of a student’s unfolding impressions of self-efficacy and can reveal early warning signs of demoralisation and disaffection; it measures their views of how positive and successful they feel in their specific capabilities as learners
• Self-regard as a learner – Equivalent to self-worth, this measure is focused quite specifically on learning and shows a strong correlation with achievement
• Confidence in learning – This measures students’ confidence in approaching and dealing with learning and perseverance when presented with challenging tasks
• Response to curriculum demands – This measures students’ perceptions of the appropriateness of the level of difficulty of work they are asked to complete.

Across all the four factors above, students in IPC member schools reported students had high levels of satisfaction. This is an encouraging sign for the IPC, and Fieldwork Education is now deciding how to develop this initial research further and continue to support learning globally.

For more information about the IPC, please CLICK HERE

For more information about PASS and GL Education, please CLICK HERE