What is the Middle Years Programme?

Hartsdown Academy aligns their educational beliefs and values to reflect the IB Middle Years Programme philosophy. This is to develop enquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

The Middle Years Programme (MYP) is designed to teach students in Key Stage 3 to become independent learners, who can discover the links between subjects and the real world. The MYP emphasises the study of eight subject groups:

 

  • Language Acquisition
  • Language and Literature
  • Individuals and Societies
  • Sciences
  • Mathematics
  • Arts 
  • Physical and Health Education
  • Design

The MYP places great emphasis on international-mindedness, interdisciplinary learning and service to others. The programme also offers opportunities to be actively involved in the community and promotes environmental responsibility in an ever changing world.

Learner Profile

At the heart of the IB is the ‘Learner profile’: a set of 10 attributes which all members of the IB community – students, teachers and leaders – should be encouraged to develop. They represent a broad range of human capabilities and responsibilities that go beyond intellectual development and academic success. 

 

Interdisciplinary Learning

Students also study a unit of interdisciplinary learning each academic year to support the main subject disciplines and build a connected curriculum that addresses the developmental needs of students.

Service-as-action and the Community Project

Another key aspect of our three-year MYP curriculum is service-as-action, which culminates in our MYP community project in Year 9. 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.

The community project encourages students to reflect on their learning and the outcomes of their work: key skills that prepare them for success in further study, the workplace and the community.