IB PYP Marrakech: Your Complete Checklist Before Enrolling Your Child

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After researching IB PYP Marrakech schools, visiting campuses, attending open days, and speaking with current families, the moment comes to make a final decision. This complete checklist is designed to ensure that before you sign an enrollment contract, you have covered every dimension of school quality that matters for your child’s experience and development.

Print this checklist, work through it for each school on your shortlist, and compare the results. The school that scores most confidently across all categories is the school most likely to be the right long-term choice.

Section 1: IB Authorization and Programme Integrity

  • ☐ Confirmed that the school holds current, full IB PYP authorization on the IBO’s official school directory (ibo.org)
  • ☐ Determined how long the school has been authorized for the PYP (longer history indicates programme maturity)
  • ☐ Confirmed whether the school also holds MYP and/or DP authorization (full continuum preferred for long-term students)
  • ☐ Asked about the most recent IBO authorization review and any conditions or areas for improvement noted
  • ☐ Verified that the school uses the official IB curriculum framework, not simply “IB-inspired” or “IB-aligned” materials

Section 2: Teaching Staff Quality

  • ☐ Confirmed the percentage of PYP teaching staff who have completed IB Category 1 workshops
  • ☐ Established the average length of service of primary teaching staff (look for three or more years as a positive indicator)
  • ☐ Asked about professional development investment — how many IB workshops have staff attended in the past two years?
  • ☐ Observed at least one class in session and assessed the quality of teacher questioning and student engagement
  • ☐ Asked how collaborative planning time is structured in the school week
  • ☐ Noted whether teachers spoke passionately and knowledgeably about units of inquiry, assessment, and the Learner Profile

Section 3: Language Provision

  • ☐ Confirmed the school’s primary language of instruction and the allocation of instructional time by language
  • ☐ Assessed the quality and depth of French language instruction (critical for Moroccan university access)
  • ☐ Assessed the quality and depth of Arabic language instruction (required by Moroccan law; important for cultural identity)
  • ☐ Confirmed whether ELL / EAL support is available if your child is not yet fluent in the language of instruction
  • ☐ Asked about the qualifications of language support staff
  • ☐ Confirmed whether the school supports mother tongue or home language maintenance

Section 4: Curriculum and Learning Experience

  • ☐ Asked a teacher to walk you through a recent unit of inquiry in detail — including the central idea, lines of inquiry, and how students were involved in driving the inquiry
  • ☐ Reviewed student portfolio examples to assess the quality and depth of learning documentation
  • ☐ Asked how the PYP Exhibition is structured at this school and how students and parents are involved
  • ☐ Confirmed how the school differentiates instruction for learners with different needs and abilities
  • ☐ Assessed the richness and integration of arts, music, and physical education in the programme
  • ☐ Asked how the school integrates Marrakech’s cultural and natural environment into units of inquiry

Section 5: Assessment and Reporting

  • ☐ Confirmed how student progress is assessed and how it is communicated to parents
  • ☐ Reviewed a sample report card or narrative report to assess its depth and usefulness
  • ☐ Asked about student-led conferences — how often they occur, what format they take, and how parents are involved
  • ☐ Confirmed whether the school uses attainment scales or achievement descriptors to complement narrative reports
  • ☐ Asked how the school manages the transition to MYP assessment if your child will continue in the IB programme

Section 6: Wellbeing and Pastoral Care

  • ☐ Confirmed whether the school employs a dedicated school counselor or wellbeing coordinator and their qualifications
  • ☐ Asked how the school identifies students who may be struggling emotionally or socially
  • ☐ Asked about the school’s approach to bullying — both prevention and intervention
  • ☐ Assessed how the school has handled any known wellbeing challenges in your child’s prospective year group
  • ☐ Confirmed how the school communicates wellbeing concerns to families — and how quickly

Section 7: Community and Belonging

  • ☐ Assessed the diversity of nationalities in the student body — a genuinely diverse community enriches the PYP experience
  • ☐ Attended a community event (sports day, cultural fair, PYP Exhibition) to observe school culture informally
  • ☐ Connected with current parents independently (not through the school’s selected references) and asked honest questions
  • ☐ Assessed the activity and quality of the Parent Teacher Association or School Community Association
  • ☐ Asked how the school supports new families — particularly those new to Marrakech — in building community connections

Section 8: Financial Transparency

  • ☐ Requested a complete fee schedule including all mandatory fees — tuition, registration, capital levy, uniforms, transport
  • ☐ Asked about the average annual fee increase over the past five years
  • ☐ Inquired about sibling discounts and any scholarship or bursary programs
  • ☐ Reviewed the enrollment contract carefully — particularly refund policies for deposits and withdrawal notice requirements
  • ☐ Modeled the total cost if your child will remain in the school through secondary level

Section 9: Your Child’s Response

  • ☐ Your child attended an observation or trial day and their feedback was positive
  • ☐ Your child expressed genuine interest or excitement about aspects of the school during or after the visit
  • ☐ Your child seemed comfortable with the physical environment and the children they met
  • ☐ You did not feel pressure to override significant negative reactions from your child during the visit

Section 10: Your Instincts

  • ☐ The school felt warm, purposeful, and genuinely student-centered — not just polished and performative
  • ☐ The teachers you spoke with were knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and clearly loved their work
  • ☐ The school’s values felt aligned with your family’s values and educational philosophy
  • ☐ You can genuinely imagine your child thriving — not just attending — in this environment
  • ☐ You feel confident that the school communicates honestly and proactively, and that it will be a genuine partner in your child’s education

How to Use This Checklist

No IB PYP Marrakech school will score perfectly on every item. What you are looking for is the school that scores most strongly across the categories that matter most to your family — and that handles its imperfections honestly and with a commitment to continuous improvement.

The school that is right for your child is not necessarily the most prestigious, the most expensive, or the most marketed. It is the school where your child will be known, challenged, supported, and inspired every single day. Use this checklist to find that school — and then commit to it wholeheartedly.

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