Hundreds of teachers attended Wales’s first conference for schools that use the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) last week.

Three years ago only one primary school in Wales was signed up to the paid-for curriculum, which costs #163;10,000 to join and a further #163;1,000 each year. Today, 39 schools across the country are using it.

Originally developed in 2000 by the oil company Shell for the children of its employees at 15 international schools, the IPC is now taught in 59 countries. It aims to teach pupils using cross-curricular, thematic units of work.

Teachers, heads and local authority officers from across Wales met at Glan Usk Primary in Newport to talk about their experiences of the IPC and to share best practice.

Gareth Coombes, senior school improvement officer for Newport Council, spoke about the links between the IPC, Estyn’s new inspection structure and the Assembly government’s School Effectiveness Framework.

Huw Jones, head of Albert Road Primary School in Penarth, which was the first in Wales to sign up, spoke about four years of delivering the IPC.

The Assembly government has embarked on a fact-finding mission to learn more about the IPC and is speaking to schools and advisors who are using it. DE.