IS33 is the first IB World School in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme from kindergarten, with Montessori pedagogy and English-French bilingualism.
The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) is for students aged 6 to 12.
International School 33 in Gradignan, just outside Bordeaux, is the leading IB World School in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. The programmes of the International Baccalaureate start from kindergarten, are continued in primary and:
Train future citizens to think freely and critically
Encourage students of all ages to think critically and challenge assumptions
Develop independently of government and national systems, integrating quality practices
Encourage students of all ages to consider local and global contexts
Helping to develop multilingual students
Official source
www.ibo.orgElementary school pupils (from grade 1 to 5) live in a bilingual, stimulating and caring environment, where the skills of the French national education system are not only respected, but greatly enriched by the most innovative teaching approaches. Indeed, our teaching is based on the foundations of the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Montessori pedagogy, two complementary approaches that place children at the heart of their learning.
The aim of this teaching is to enable students to approach entry with confidence and under the best possible conditions into grade 6. Likewise, if the child has to leave the school during the cycle, he or she will be easily reintegrated into the traditional system.
At the end of primary school, children enter middle school with an excellent level of English (listening, speaking and writing) thanks to immersion teaching in English.
Our aim is that children should be happy to come to school, enjoy their work, have confidence in themselves and respect others and their environment.
IS33 pupils in the Primary Years Programme (PYP) study two days a week in French and two days in English. Teachers teach in their mother tongue.
Students study language, mathematics, human and natural sciences, the arts and personal, social and physical education in English and French.
Passionate teachers are listening to students and nurture their curiosity and thirst for knowledge by offering attractive work. Strengthened by the feeling of working for themselves and the interest shown in what they are doing, the students gradually build up a solid foundation in general culture, and enjoy working.
This daily exposure to two modern languages naturally enhances pupils' ability to understand, express themselves and think in two different linguistic systems. The lessons are adapted to the language level of each student, to guarantee real, motivating and lasting progress.
Students learning English as a second language are given special support to enable them to take the Cambridge Young Learners exams, an internationally recognised set of certifications attesting to their level.
In the same way, non-French-speaking pupils attend French as a Foreign Language (FLE) classes every day, to reinforce and accelerate their command of the country's official language.
All IB programmes encourage students to become independent learners. This is one of their key strengths.
Thanks to our teaching programmes, we :
Encourage students to ask questions, pursue their own aspirations, set ambitious goals and develop the perseverance needed to achieve them.
Let's help students make informed, critical and ethical judgements, and develop the flexibility, perseverance and confidence they need to make important changes in the world.
Encouraging the creation of rich personal and cultural identities
Schools that choose to implement the Primary Years Programme contribute to the academic, social and emotional well-being of pupils, focusing on international awareness and developing a sense of belonging to both local and global communities.
The PYP fosters the development of learners who know how to combine autonomy and collaboration, encouraging all students to express their opinions, make choices and take ownership of their learning.
The IB Primary Years Programme is structured around 6 transdisciplinary themes that provide students with authentic learning experiences that transcend the boundaries of traditional subject areas.
Exploring our nature as human beings, our beliefs, our values, our physical and mental health, our relationships and our communities.
Understanding our orientation in place and time, our personal history, our homes, our discoveries and the links between individuals and civilisations.
Developing our means of expression, artistic creation, communication and appreciation of aesthetics.
Explore the natural world and its laws, the interaction between science and society, and the impact of scientific and technological advances.
Understanding the systems created by mankind and communities, their structure and operation, their rights and responsibilities.
Develop our commitment to rights and responsibilities in our struggle to share limited resources with other living beings.
Montessori materials are concrete, scientifically developed materials that can be used in the classroom to introduce new concepts and develop pupils' independence.
Pupils use Montessori materials to introduce new concepts or until they are ready to move on to abstraction. Each material is scientifically designed to facilitate learning.
Little by little, children learn to detach themselves from materials. Maria Montessori explained that although children under the age of 7 need to be concrete, they will later naturally ask to move on to the abstract.
By the end of grade 5, children are able to join a class in which there is no longer any Montessori teaching material, ready for middle school with confidence and autonomy.
Need for concrete, active handling of Montessori materials
Gradual move towards abstraction, detachment from materials
The child is not a vessel to be filled, but a source to be allowed to gush forth.
Thanks to this natural progression, children are ready to tackle the sixth form with confidence. If the child leaves the school during the cycle, he or she will be easily reintegrated into the traditional system.
Self-confidence and academic excellence: each student develops their full potential at their own pace, in a stimulating bilingual environment
At IS 33 in Gradignan, the elementary section caters for pupils from grade 1 to 5 in five separate classes, each adapted to their own academic level.
Our classes at small staff (between 15 and 20 pupils per class) allow for a individualised support, It's a place where every child can develop at his or her own pace, where progress is valued and where initiative is encouraged. All the conditions are in place to enable the teaching team to observe, support and guide the pupils in a caring and demanding way.
Within each class, lessons are adapted to the child's pace. Differentiated teaching ensures that everyone progresses at their own pace.
Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Enhanced English for beginners and French as a foreign language: students are divided into levels for optimum, progressive learning.
Students are taught in a modern and inspiring environment, with bright facitilies, that were fully renovated in 2019 and designed to support their well-being and concentration. The teaching materials are carefully selected and new technologies are integrated in a relevant and balanced way in learning. Interactive screens, screens or video projectors in every classroom, tablets, 3D printers and other digital tools This enables a variety of media to be used, encourages autonomy and makes the projects concrete, visual and motivating.
More than 1,800m² for recreation and outdoor activities, offering daily access to nature, which is essential for children's physical and emotional balance.
A dojo for weekly judo classes for all students, developing discipline, respect and self-control.
Direct access to the Stade d'Ornon for sports and a variety of sporting activities throughout the year.
Everything is designed to ensure that school is a place where we learn with enthusiasm, where we feel safe, valued and free to explore.
Core subjects are taught in both languages, guaranteeing a balanced mastery of French and English while providing an opening to other languages.
Complete teaching of the French language, literature, grammar, written and oral expression.
Two levels: native or second language. Programme adapted to ensure optimum progress for each student.
Additional languages offered during the school day, depending on the student's level.
Well in body, well in mind, well in spirit, well with others.
Weekly sports classes to develop coordination, team spirit and physical well-being.
Weekly art and music sessions to develop creativity and artistic sensitivity.
Pupils look after the school's animals, learning responsibility and respect for all living things.
Theatre, hip-hop, musical comedy, piano, guitar, violin, programming and tennis after classes.
After-school childcare and homework help for families.
Optional courses on Wednesday mornings for more in-depth study of certain subjects.
At the end of the cycle, the students at International School 33 in Gradignan, just outside Bordeaux, surprise with their maturity, creativity and critical thinking.
It is the high point of their elementary school career: a major interdisciplinary research project carried out as a team.
Canva, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, iMovie (among others)
Ability to use AI thoughtfully and ethically
Search for reliable sources, quotes, expert interviews
Mock-ups, posters, videos, lamination, page layout
Public speaking, adapting to different audiences
Ability to set up humanitarian projects
These projects demonstrate their ability to work together, organise themselves and solve complex problems, while at the same time getting enthusiastically involved in practical, meaningful projects.
Our students leave elementary school with :
A thorough command of at least French and English (with official certificates)
A rich general culture
A sharp intellectual curiosity
A strong self-confidence
An ability to adapt, learn and innovate in a constantly changing world
Thanks to the IB's structured and caring environment, reinforced by a modern pedagogy rooted in the latest advances in neuroscience, our students exceed the expectations of the French national education system's common skills base while achieving their full potential. They approach middle school with maturity, open-mindedness and enthusiasm.
