What is the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP)?
The MYP is designed for students aged 11 to 16. It provides a framework of learning that encourages students to become creative, critical and reflective thinkers. The Middle Years Programme (MYP) emphasizes intellectual challenge, encouraging students to make connections between their studies in traditional subjects and the real world. It fosters the development of skills for communication, intercultural understanding and global engagement—essential qualities for young people who are becoming global leaders.
The MYP is flexible enough to accommodate most national or local curriculum requirements. It builds upon the knowledge, skills and attitudes developed in the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and prepares students to meet the academic challenges of the IB Diploma Programme (DP) and the IB Career-related Certificate (IBCC).
The IB Middle Years Programme:
The curriculum
The MYP consists of eight subject groups: language acquisition, language and literature, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, arts, physical and health education, and design. Student study is supported by a minimum of 50 hours of instruction per subject group in each academic year. In years 4 and 5, students have the option to take courses from six of the eight subject groups, which provides greater flexibility.
The Middle Years Programme: a unique approach, relevant for a global society
The MYP aims to help students develop their personal understanding, their emerging sense of self and responsibility in their community.
MYP teachers organize the curriculum with appropriate attention to:
MYP projects
MYP projects provide students the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned in the MYP. In schools that include MYP years 5, all students must complete the personal project. In programmes that include MYP years 4 or 5, schools may offer students the opportunity to do both the community project and the personal project. In schools that include MYP year 3 or 4, students must complete the community project.
At this stage we prepare and present our students to the “Main Suite” (FCE, CAE, CPE) University of Cambridge examinations.
To ensure that their learning is proficient in all areas of the language, as required by Cambridge, at Princess Margaret International School in Barcelona we organize study groups based on the needs and abilities of each student, distributing them according to their level of knowledge and regardless of their age. In this way students can move forward at a personalized pace.
Thanks to the methodology of the Middle Years Programme, we can present the majority of our students to the FCE exam in 1st / 2nd of ESO and to the CAE or CPE exam in 4th of ESO obtaining successful results every school year.
Work on self-esteem is fundamental during this stage. Work which, through the all-round experience that manual and intellectual education gives, allows boys and girls to work independently and in a balanced manner. Altogether including their classmates, valuing effort, relating concepts as well as developing and strengthening their identities.
The aim is to complete this stage with a strong sense of identity, knowing what their strengths are, and how they can contribute to their personal and the collective well-being. Potentially being convinced in their own self-esteem and self-knowledge.
Furthermore, during the four years of secondary education, the students begin to be in charge of their own journey, which means providing them with a general overview and learning to be self-reliant regardless of the path they may follow, but always developing fully on a social and personal level.
Princess Margaret International School has acquired the category of candidate school to teach the MYP in Barcelona and is expecting to obtain authorization to become an IB World School. IB World Schools share a common philosophy: a commitment to a rigorous and quality international education that we consider important for our students. Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: Primary Years Programme (PEP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (PD) or the Carreer-related Programme (CP). The category of candidate school does not guarantee that the school will obtain authorization. For more information about the IB and its programmes, visit http://www.ibo.org.