Inquiry in Action : Year 6 PYP Exhibition
7 May 2026
For one afternoon, the Junior School became part research fair, part debate chamber and part deep dive into the minds of Year 6.
As the final stage of the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Exhibition encourages pupils to explore real-world issues while developing the curiosity, confidence and communication skills that sit at the heart of IB learning. Throughout the afternoon, classes from across the Junior School visited the Exhibition to explore displays, ask questions and hear directly from the exhibitors themselves. Parents later joined the event, giving pupils the chance to present their work to a wider audience and defend their thinking under a steady stream of questions.
The range of topics was vast and wonderfully specific. Seagulls, skiing, fake news, gaming, healthcare poverty, AI and accessibility in sport all found their place within the Exhibition, with pupils challenged not only to research their chosen issue, but to think about its wider impact and how action could follow inquiry.
Some projects moved far beyond the display board. Louis explored inclusivity in sport, leading a PE lesson alongside Mr Baxter and Year 1 pupils, while Livvy and Julia created palm oil-free recipe books for younger pupils to take home. Connie and Isobel focused on healthcare poverty, walking 2km every day throughout April to raise money towards a defibrillator.
Alongside presenting their work, pupils were recognised for areas including action-taking, presentation skills, audience engagement and connection to the local community. Just as important as the projects themselves was the atmosphere in the room – younger pupils asking thoughtful questions, Year 6 pupils speaking with growing confidence, and conversations continuing long after presentations had finished.
A key milestone before the transition into Senior School, the Exhibition asks pupils to step into a more independent role as learners, researchers and communicators. By the end of the afternoon, it was clear many already had.
