The Primary Years Programme at CIS for Grades 1 to 5 follows the Cambridge International Education (CIE) Primary curriculum, providing students with a strong academic foundation while nurturing curiosity, confidence, and a love for learning.
During the primary years, students develop essential skills in literacy, numeracy, and inquiry while building the habits of independent and collaborative learning. Teaching and learning at CIS are guided by inquiry-based, learner-centred practices that encourage students to ask questions, explore ideas, and make meaningful connections across subjects.
Key Learning Areas
Languages – Developing literacy, communication, and expression
Mathematics – Building conceptual understanding, reasoning, and problem-solving skills
Science – Encouraging inquiry, observation, and scientific thinking
Humanities – Integrating history, geography, civics, and environmental awareness to help learners understand people, places, and societies
Computing – Developing digital literacy, computational thinking, and responsible technology use
Well-being and Life Skills – Supporting social-emotional learning, resilience, self-management, and positive relationships
Global Perspectives as a Cross-Curricular Framework
Cambridge Global Perspectives is used as a framework across subjects to develop essential skills rather than as a standalone subject. Through interdisciplinary learning experiences, students:
Explore local, national, and global contexts
Develop research, collaboration, and communication skills
Learn to analyse multiple perspectives
Build ethical awareness and responsible citizenship
This approach strengthens critical thinking, empathy, and problem-solving, enabling learners to connect classroom learning with real-world issues.
Assessment is ongoing and formative, designed to inform instruction and support each learner’s progress. Teachers use observation, feedback, reflection, and evidence of learning to guide next steps, focusing on growth, understanding, and skill development rather than solely on summative outcomes.
The Primary Years at CIS lay the foundation for a smooth transition into Middle School. Through the Cambridge Primary curriculum and inquiry-based practices, students are well prepared to progress into Cambridge Lower Secondary, CBSE, or other international pathways, with confidence and competence.
At CIS, the Primary Years Programme nurtures curious, capable, and confident learners who are ready to take the next steps in their educational journey.
