International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme

 

The first five years of the ISE Secondary Department, for students who are aged 11 to 16 years, are based on the Middle Years Programme (MYP) of the International Baccalaureate. Within the school, year groups are referred to as MP1 to MP5.

The IB MYP provides a thorough study of various disciplines. It offers students a balanced curriculum with equal importance placed on all subject areas, as well as accentuating the interrelatedness between subjects.

 

The MYP Programme:

·       addresses holistically students’ intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being;

·       provides students opportunities to develop a conceptual approach to understanding, along with the knowledge, attitudes and skills they need in order to manage complexity and take responsible action for the future;

·       ensures breadth and depth of understanding through study in eight subject groups;

·       requires the study of at least two languages (the language of instruction and an additional language of choice) to support students in understanding their own cultures and those of others;

·       empowers students to participate in service within the community;

·       helps to prepare students for further education, the workplace and a lifetime of learning.

 

 

MYP Subjects at the ISE

Students in the MYP follow a course of study in eight subject areas:

  • Language & Literature — Offered in English and Dutch at the school, or as a home language with the support of the Language Coordinator.
  • Language Acquisition — Offered in English, Dutch, French, or Spanish. Students in MP1-3 are required to study both Dutch and either French or Spanish, while students in MP4-5 may choose to study only one.
  • Mathematics — Students follow a general course of study in MP1-3, and then either Standard or Extended Mathematics in MP4 and MP5.
  • Sciences — Students follow an integrated course of study in MP1-3, followed by separate lessons in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics in MP4 with a choice of two Sciences in MP5.
  • Individuals and Societies — Students follow an integrated course of study in MP1-3, followed by separate lessons in Geography and History in MP4 with a choice of one in MP5.
  • Arts — Students study both visual and performing arts in MP1-2, followed by separate lessons in Visual Arts, Theatre, and Music in MP3 with the option to continue with either one or two Arts subjects in MP4-5.
  • Design — Students follow a general course of study in MP1-3 with the option to either continue with Design in MP4 and MP5 or opt for another Arts or Language in its place.
  • Physical and Health Education — Students follow a general course throughout the MYP.

 

Interdisciplinary Learning

The ability to use knowledge and skills from different subjects is a fundamental part of lifelong learning, and an integral skill if students are expected to face the challenges of our ever-changing world. The MYP Programme supports students in developing their interdisciplinary understanding through both informal instruction in the different subjects and through formal instruction of at least one interdisciplinary unit in each year of the Programme. In this way, students apply their disciplinary understanding across subjects to understand complex issues and ideas in critical and creative ways.

 

Service as Action (community service)

Action (learning by doing and experiencing) and Service have always been shared values of the IB community. Students take action when they apply what they are learning in the classroom and beyond. IB learners strive to be caring members of the community who demonstrate a commitment to service – making a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment. Service as Action is an integral part of the programme through organised activities in all years of the programme, culminating in required involvement in both a local and a global service activity in the final MP5 year of the Programme.

 

The Personal Project

In the final year of the MYP, students are required to demonstrate the skills and concepts they have learned through a culminating project: the Personal Project. All MP5 students develop their project independently with support from both a teacher supervisor and our Personal Project Coordinator in order to  produce a truly personal and creative piece of work that stands as a summative review of their ability to conduct independent work.

 

Approaches to Learning (ATL)

A unifying thread throughout all MYP and DP subject groups, Approaches to Learning provide the foundation for independent learning by helping students learn how to learn. The IB outlines these skills and categorises them into five clusters:

  • Communication
  • Social
  • Self-management
  • Research
  • Thinking

 

ATL skills are explicitly taught throughout all years of the MYP and DP programmes so that students can develop these skills in order to become responsible for their own learning.

More information about the MYP Programme, including the MYP Subject briefs, can be found on the IB’s website here.

 

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