Equipping Students for Future Success
Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Awal School is a Candidate School* for the Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes. Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Awal Schoolis pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Awal School believes is important for our students.
*Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit http://www.ibo.org
The Primary Years Programme (PYP) offers an inquiry-based, transdisciplinary curriculum framework that builds conceptual understanding. It is a student-centered approach to education for children aged 3-12. It reflects the best of educational research, thought leadership and experience derived from IB World Schools.
The PYP has evolved to become a world leader in future-focused education. The PYP is an example of best educational practice globally, responding to the challenges and opportunities facing young students in our rapidly changing world.
The Primary Years Programme (PYP) curriculum framework begins with the premise that students are agents of their own learning and partners in the learning process. It prioritizes people and their relationships to build a strong learning community.
PYP students use their initiative to take responsibility and ownership of their learning. By learning through inquiry and reflecting on their own learning, PYP students develop knowledge, conceptual understandings, skills and the attributes of the IB Learner profile to make a difference in their own lives, their communities, and beyond.
The framework emphasizes the central principle of agency, which underpins the three pillars of school life:
Embedded in the framework is the recognition of the importance of fostering an individual’s self-efficacy. Students with a strong sense of self-efficacy are active in their own learning and take action in their learning community.
The Primary Years Programme (PYP) at Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Awal School is designed to align with the school’s vision of preparing the next generation of global citizens, who are equipped to thrive anywhere while remaining rooted in their Emirati identity
It emphasizes the holistic development of innovative, forward-thinking leaders deeply connected to their cultural roots. The PYP provides a transformative educational experience for students, teachers, and the entire school community by delivering an engaging, relevant, challenging, and meaningful curriculum that fosters lifelong learning.
PYP learners at our school take ownership of their educational journey by collaborating with teachers to deepen their understanding, build confidence, and nurture self-motivation. Through continuous, integrated assessment, they evolve into effective, self-regulated learners who can reflect on and act upon constructive feedback.
Guided by six transdisciplinary themes of global significance, students at Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Awal School expand their learning by developing strong conceptual understandings and enhancing their knowledge and skills across, between, and beyond traditional subject boundaries. This approach equips our learners to succeed in an interconnected and dynamic world.
The MYP aims to develop active learners and internationally minded young people who can empathize with others and pursue lives of purpose and meaning.
The programme empowers students to inquire into a wide range of issues and ideas of significance locally, nationally and globally. The result is young people who are creative, critical and reflective thinkers.
The MYP curriculum framework comprises eight subject groups, providing a broad and balanced education for early adolescents.
The MYP requires at least 50 hours of teaching time for each subject group, in each year of the programme. In the final two years of the programme, carefully-defined subject group flexibility allows students to meet local requirements and personal learning goals.
Read about the MYP curriculum.
The Middle Years Programme (MYP) at Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Awal School is dedicated to developing global citizens, critical thinkers, and leaders who honor their Emirati identity while thriving in an interconnected world.
Building on the inquiry-driven foundation of the PYP, the MYP offers a challenging, engaging curriculum that combines academic rigor with real-world application. By fostering interdisciplinary connections, students deepen their understanding of concepts and refine essential skills across subjects, preparing for lifelong learning and academic success.
At KBZA, MYP learners take ownership of their education, working collaboratively with teachers and peers to build independence, resilience, and self-motivation. Through continuous assessment, they reflect on their progress, set personal goals, and use feedback to grow as effective, self-regulated learners.
Guided by global contexts, MYP students explore local and international issues through inquiry and problem-solving. They develop key ATL (Approaches to Learning) skills, including critical thinking, communication, and ethical decision-making, empowering them to adapt and excel in diverse situations.
As part of the IB continuum, the MYP prepares students for the Diploma Programme (DP) or the Career-related Programme (CP). The DP is a globally recognized qualification valued by top universities for its academic depth, focus on critical thinking, and holistic development. The CP blends academic study with career-focused learning, offering pathways to higher education, apprenticeships, or the workforce.
Aligned with KBZA’s core values, the MYP promotes academic excellence, international-mindedness, and service. It ensures students graduate as confident, well-rounded individuals ready to lead, contribute, and succeed in an ever-changing world.