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ISM has been teaching the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) since 2004 and in 2007 the school obtained full authorization for the MYP from the IB Organization. The school was re-evaluated and reauthorised by the MYP in 2011. Our first MYP students completed the programme in June 2009 and that class graduated with an IB Diploma in May 2011.

Admission to M1 is open to students aged above 11 years who have usually completed about six years of primary education. Applicants are asked to attach previous school reports as these may be used to determine placement upon entry; an interview and tests in English and Mathematics may also be required.

Download the school's MYP Handbook for more details

What is the MYP?

The IB Middle Years Programme, for students aged 11 to 16 (classes M1 to M5), provides a framework of academic challenge that encourages students to embrace and understand the connections between traditional subjects and the real world, and become critical and reflective thinkers. The programme:

• encourages international-mindedness in IB students, starting with a foundation in their own language and culture,
• encourages a positive attitude to learning by challenging students to solve problems, show creativity and resourcefulness and participate actively in their communities,
• reflects real life by providing a framework that allows students to see the connections among the subjects themselves, and between the subjects and real issues,
• supports the development of communication skills to encourage inquiry, understanding, language acquisition, and to allow student reflection and expression,
• emphasizes, through the learner profile, the development of the whole student - physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically.

The curriculum

The curriculum is divided into eight subject groups, taught at ISM as follows:



© International Baccalaureate 2008

Assessment

Assessment is criterion-related, so students around the world are measured against pre-specified criteria for each subject group. Teachers may modify these criteria to be age-appropriate in the earlier years of the programme. Teachers set assessment tasks that are assessed internally in the school. External checks (called "moderation") by IB examiners are carried out on this internal assessment to ensure worldwide consistency of standards. Moderation is carried out every year.

Reporting

In every MYP subject, students are assessed against specified criteria and, over each quarter of the school year, teachers will use these assessments to determne a student's achievement grade in that subject. Students are graded on a scale from 1 to 7, with 4 representing a satisfactory level of achievement and 7 representing an excellent achievement level. Full reports showing grades as well as assessment criteria are issued to parents each semester, with an interim report also being issued in the first and third quarters.

Quality Assurance

Any school wishing to off er the Middle Years Programme and attain IB World School status must first go through the authorization process. The requirements for authorization are the same for all schools, even though the process is administered slightly differently in each IB region. The process is designed to ensure schools are well prepared to implement the programme successfully.

This is a challenging programme that demands the best from both motivated students and teachers. Schools can access an extensive package of IB professional development for teachers and administrators and commit to ongoing professional development. Teams from the IB organisation visit IB World Schools from time to time in order to support an ongoing process of review and development, using standards and practices that apply to all IB World Schools.

IB teachers are challenged to constantly reflect upon and improve their practice. All teachers in IB World Schools have access to the online curriculum centre, which provides programme documentation, examples of student work, and also acts as the hub of an international online community. Teachers can talk to other teachers in IB World Schools around the world, give and receive advice, and post their own example resources for other teachers to share.


(Some sections of this page are extracted from: The IB Middle Years Programme, © The International Baccalaureate 2008)