The Middle Years Programme at International School Hilversum

Introduction
The Middle Years Programme (MYP) is designed for students between the ages of 11 and 16. This period, encompassing puberty and early mid-adolescence, is a particularly critical phase of personal and intellectual development. The MYP aims to help students develop the knowledge, skills and attitude they need to participate actively and responsibly in a changing and increasingly interrelated world. In doing so, learning how to learn and how to evaluate information critically is as important as the content of the disciplines themselves. The MYP is based on three fundamental concepts:

- Holistic learning: the MYP offers an approach to teaching and learning that embraces yet transcends the focus on traditional school subjects. While insisting on thorough study of various disciplines, the MYP accentuates the interrelatedness of them, so advances a holistic view of learning.
- Intercultural awareness: MYP aims to foster understanding among young people. By encouraging students to consider multiple perspectives, we aim to foster tolerance and respect, hoping that this may lead to empathy.
- Communication: the MYP supports inquiry and understanding, and allows student reflection and expression. The International School Hilversum (ISH) offers a strong languages programme as a means of teaching appreciation of different cultures and ways of thinking and expressing. Besides languages, we see Visual and Performing Arts as well as ICT as important ways of communicating one’s views and thoughts.

The programme is built up around five common perspectives embedded within and visible across academic subjects. These five broad areas are known as the Areas of Interaction:

• Approaches to learning
• Community and Service
• Homo Faber
• Health and Social Education
• Environment.

The Course
The IBMYP offers a curriculum framework that allows individual schools to make certain choices as long as the school provides a balanced curriculum that will equip young people for effective participation in the modern world. At the International School Hilversum (ISH) students study each of the eight subject areas:

- Language A: this is the student’s best language. ISH offers English and Dutch as languages A. Dutch is streamed in advanced and beginners level.
- Language B: as additional modern languages ISH offers French, German and Spanish. In following with the IB philosophy the ISH encourages students to stay in touch with their home language.
- Humanities: In grades 7 and 8 ISH teaches Social Studies; in grade 9 Geography and History. In grade 10 students can opt for Economics and Geography.
- Sciences: Biology and integrated Sciences are taught in grades 7, 8 and 9. In grade 10 students can opt for Physics and/or Chemistry.
- Mathematics is taught in grades 7-10 at two levels: Maths Core and Maths Extended.
- Arts: in grades 7-10 all students take Visual Arts; in grades 7 and 8 Drama is part of the curriculum.
- Physical education: two spacious gym halls and an outdoor basketball field provide room for several aspects of Physical education, focusing on the development of motor skills, cooperation and a healthy life style.
- Technology: at ISH Design Technology is offered in grades 7-10. In grade 7 Computer Studies is scheduled for one period per week; in all MYP grades ICT is integrated in all subjects.

In their final year of MYP all students present a Personal Project, an independent piece of work that is intended to be the culmination of the student’s sustained involvement with the five areas of interaction.

Assessment
Student assessment within the MYP consists of two types, each with a specific function:

- Formative assessment is used to judge periodically the progress and efforts of studies and to see to what extent the objectives have been achieved.
- Summative assessment takes place at the end of the programme and shows the final achievement of the individual student in relation to the specific objectives.

MYP assessment, whether formative or summative is carried out using assessment criteria established by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO). There are no formal externally set or externally marked examinations. Instead the IBO validates the standards of the ISH internal assessment through a process of external moderation.

Award of the MYP Certificate, Portfolio and Record of Achievement
At the end of the MYP all students receive a Portfolio containing several of their achievements in various aspects of school life and their Record of Achievement, listing their results in all moderated subjects. To students who have completed all stated requirements at the expected level, the MYP Certificate will be issued.

Authorisation and Eligibility
Only schools authorised by the International Baccalaureate Organisation to teach the MYP are eligible to register their students for moderation and for issuing the MYP certificate. Only students who have completed at least two years of the MYP are eligible for the MYP Certificate.

Admission to the Diploma Programme
At the end of the MYP, students can apply for entrance to the Diploma Programme. Based on their academic results and proven ambition in the MYP, the school will decide on admittance to the Diploma Programme and help the student to choose a subject package that supports his or her career perspective.