Student Agency
Student Agency is an essential element of the Primary Years Programme (PYP) of the
International Baccalaureate and as St Peters Springfield begins its Primary
Years Programme journey, we are excited to explore more opportunities to embed
Student Agency into our programme.
Student agency refers to a student's ability to take ownership of their learning, make
choices, set goals and take actions to drive their learning. This approach
empowers students to be active and engaged learners, fostering lifelong skills
and attitudes.
Why Promote Student Agency:
Lifelong Learning Skills: Promoting agency encourages the development of skills such as
critical thinking, problem-solving, self-regulation and independence. These
skills are essential for success not only in school but to equip our learners
for the rapidly changing world that we live in.
Motivation and Engagement: When students have a say in what they learn and how they learn
it, they are more motivated and are likely to stay on task and focused. Learners
can often make better connections between their own interests and the
curriculum.
Ownership and Responsibility: Encouraging agency helps students take responsibility for
their own learning so they are developing important self-management skills such
as planning, organisation, time management and goal setting.
Ways to Promote Student Agency
Inquiry-Based Learning: The PYP is inquiry-driven. We encourage learners to ask questions,
investigate and explore topics of interest. Teachers act as facilitators and
guides rather than just information providers.
Choice and Voice: We will look at providing opportunities for our learners to have
choices in what and how they learn. This can include letting them select topics
for research projects or giving them options for how they demonstrate their
understanding (e.g., through presentations, reports or creative projects).
Goal Setting: Learners are supported to set learning goals and reflect on their
progress regularly. This can be done through conferences, journals or learning
portfolios. Learners regularly reflect on their learning experiences. What
worked well? What didn't? What could they do differently next time?
Collaborative Learning: Finding opportunities for collaboration and peer teaching. This
allows learners to learn from each other and gives them a sense of ownership in
the classroom community.
Real-World Connections: Showing learners how what they're learning is relevant to their
lives and the world around them. Encourage them to take action based on their
learning, addressing real issues or problems.
Teacher Guidance: While promoting student agency, teachers play a crucial role in
providing support, resources and feedback. They scaffold the learning process
and help students develop the skills they need for self-directed learning.
Promoting student agency will require a shift in the traditional teacher-centred approach
to education. It will empower our learners to become active participants in
their learning journey and equips them with the skills and attitudes needed for
lifelong learning and success.
Karen O’Neill
Primary Curriculum Coordinator
