Middle Years Programme (MYP)
The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme provides a broad, balanced, internationally-minded education for early adolescents.
The IB Middle Years Programme encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world. It aims to help students develop their personal understanding, emerging sense of self, and responsibility in their community.
Teaching and Learning in the IB Programme
Take a closer look at some of the teaching and learning strategies used in the International Baccalaureate Programme.
The Middle Years Programme curriculum
The MYP curriculum consists of eight subject groups. The balanced approach to subjects further extends the philosophy of the Primary Years Programme which highlights the importance of developing the whole child, with the aim of creating well-rounded individuals.
The eight subject groups studied as part of the Middle Years Programme include:
- Language acquisition
- Language and literature
- Individuals and societies
- Sciences
- Mathematics
- Arts
- Physical and health education
- Design
Using global contexts, Middle Years Programme students develop an understanding of the world and their evolving place within it, through developmentally appropriate explorations of:
- Identities and relationships
- Personal and cultural identity
- Orientations in space and time
- Scientific and technical innovation
- Fairness and development
- Globalisation and sustainability.
Students learn best when their learning experiences have context and are connected to their lives and their experience of the world that they have experienced.
Interdisciplinary learning
In the Primary Years Programme, young learners are encouraged to make natural connections between different learning areas, in an effective programme of inquiry and transdisciplinary learning.
As students progress into the Middle Years Programme, learning areas become more compartmentalised by necessity, due to the increasing depth of specialist knowledge to be acquired. However, each year students in the Middle Years Programme must study at least one collaboratively-planned interdisciplinary unit that involves two or more subject groups. Interdisciplinary teaching and learning is systematically and meticulously planned by our teaching staff, to ensure students maximise the benefits of this progressive, best-practise learning strategy.
As knowledge and information multiply, critical thinkers must successfully integrate disciplinary perspectives to understand complex issues and ideas.
Action and Service
Action and service are values that run through every level of the International Baccalaureate Programme.
Through Service Learning, MYP students strive to be caring members of the community who are committed to making a positive difference to the lives of others, and to the environment.
Learner Profile
Students are taught to embody the ISWA Learner Profile (adopted from the International Baccalaureate) that encourages them to be thinkers, inquirers, caring, communicators, principled, reflective, open-minded, knowledgeable, risk-takers, and balanced.
Transitions from the MYP
After finishing the MYP, students are well-prepared for further education, both locally and internationally, including the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, the Advanced Placement, or the WACE**.
**WACE is not currently offered at International School of Western Australia.