The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB MYP)
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) is for students aged 11-16. The IB MYP builds upon the skills and learning developed in the IB Primary Years Programme (IB PYP). The MYP also relies on connecting classroom pedagogical practices and content to the world outside through the Global Contexts and the Learner Profile.
The IB MYP prepares students for the IB Diploma Programme, which was established to provide students with a balanced education, facilitate geographic and cultural mobility and to promote international understanding.
Westlink International School is a Candidate School* for the MYP Programme. This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Westlink believes is important for our students.
*Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org
MYP Concepts and Global Contexts
At the heart of the Middle Years Programme is the IB learner profile. Surrounding the Learner Profile are the supporting elements of the MYP programme including the key elements of a concept-based and contextual curriculum, core elements of the programme, subject groups, and the goal of international-mindedness connecting all these components. The Middle Years Programme (MYP) helps students develop both subject-specific and interdisciplinary understanding.
The MYP curriculum framework includes:
● Approaches to learning (ATL), helping students learn how to learn by developing skills for research, critical and creative thinking, communication, collaboration, and self-management
● Key and related concepts, helping students explore big ideas that matter
● Global contexts, helping students understand the relevance and importance of their study for understanding their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet.
Subjects
Emphasizing interdisciplinary learning, the MYP facilitates students in recognizing connections and relevance across various subject groups. By using concepts and contexts, the program initiates meaningful integration and knowledge transfer. Collaborative interdisciplinary units, undertaken each year, explore common themes or issues from multiple perspectives, fostering skills aligned with the IB learner profile—turning students into inquirers, thinkers, communicators, and caring individuals.
Personal Project
Students who are in Grade 10 (the final year of the MYP) are expected to carry out an extended, collaborative research project, called the Personal Project, under the guidance of their teachers and a mentor. This major assessment piece has a strong emphasis on in-depth research, detailed analysis and quality presentation. It enables students to display their independence in learning and is the culmination of the entire program.
IB Learner Profile
The IB learner profile represents a broad range of human dispositions, capacities and traits that encompass intellectual, personal, emotional and social growth. Developing and demonstrating the attributes of the learner profile is an expression of what the IB means by international-mindedness.
Find more about the IB Learner Profile here.
