BMH is a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme and pursuing authorization as an IB World School. IB World Schools share a common philosophy—a commitment to improve the teaching and learning of a diverse and inclusive community of students by delivering challenging, high quality programmes of international education that share a powerful vision.
As a school aspiring to become an IB World School, BMH has always worked hard to ensure that our early years programme has the depth and breadth needed for our future generation in a fast changing world. In a continuous effort to combine IB philosophy with educational best practices in China, we are more than pleased to see not just the transformational changes to the curriculum itself, but how the committed network of IB World Schools all work together to carry out our shared mission to groom global citizens.
In June 2024, BMH Pre School achieved IB PYP candidacy status, which is a significant milestone on our path to international education excellence.
In April, BMH received the consultation visit from Ms Jenny Jin, an IB consultant as well as the PYP Coordinator and Curriculum Coach from Western Academy of Beijing. The two-day visit, designed as a comprehensive quality inspection in all areas, proves to be a vital opportunity to refine our international education practices. Ms Jenny diligently conducted classroom observations, teacher discussions, and parent dialogues, and reviewed our educational practices in depth in her fact-finding journey. We were greatly inspired by her constructive feedback and professional consultancy. Upon completion of this visit, BMH is one step closer to final IB authorization.
Observation in All Aspects
-Everyday Educational Practices
During her visit, Ms. Jenny observed BMH's transdisciplinary inquiry lessons in action: In art workshops, children made arts and crafts linked to Universe and Space using natural materials, expressing their unique understandings of the world. During inquiry lessons, K2 children handmade invitations for their Superhero Exhibition, trying to explain to BMH parents and the wider community what superheroes are really about and their virtues in an end-of-unit communication event. Children were also brought to our extensive grass field, where they conducted experiments guided by local and expat teachers, trying to identify that out of the various options they have, which item provides the best protection for eggs against breaking, thereby learning the properties of different materials.
Ms Jenny was very impressed with those learning highlights evident throughout BMH’s everyday teaching and learning: “BMH's Inquiry Programme is a true presentation of IB's child-centered philosophy. Children should own their learning journey, show learner’s agency and express their thoughts in every creative way possible. Every child at BMH feels they are being seen and supported, which is BMH's distinctive strength and it really captures nicely the essence of international education."
Deep and Meaningful Dialogue-
Bouncing Ideas off Each Other
During teacher discussions, Ms Jenny particularly commended BMH's creative interpretation of IB Learner Profile attributes, with each class developing unique methods to demonstrate children's connections with these international standards. Teachers presented on inquiry curriculum design, collaborative lesson planning systems, classroom management, and English teaching, which are all testimony to BMH's professional capacity in implementing international benchmarks in local context.
When talking to parents, Ms Jenny listened to their vivid stories about children's growth in terms of global mindedness and critical thinking in BMH. They shared that BMH is a treasure trove of exploration and playful learning. BMH teachers are caring and individualised support is given to each child. This is again evidenced through children’s improved confidence and wellbeing.
Strategic Advice-
Continuous Path to Growth
In the final reflection meeting, Ms Jenny fully recognised BMH's PYP core competencies: the school leadership has a deep understanding of IB philosophy, 100% completion of IB teacher training, and a collaborative, inclusive community. She recommended enhancing balance of vertical alignment of transdisciplinary themes and use diverse recordkeeping methods for student voice. These expert insights chart BMH's course for continued improvement as we advance steadily toward IB World School status through sustained quality improvement initiatives.
