Curriculum detail - Middle Years Programme

The journey to independence

Middle School coincides with the journey from childhood to adolescence. A period of enormous intellectual, emotional and social change. It’s a time to be inspired and challenged, and it’s a time for support, empathy and building relationships.

At SIS, students feel safe and secure in our learning environment, they take initiative and feel confident enough to try new activities and to make mistakes.

Our middle years curriculum is the International Baccalaureate’s Middle Years Programme (MYP). The MYP focuses on both academic and personal development and continues to strengthen independent learning skills and cultivate the development of lifelong learners and well-rounded global citizens.

Exploring an holistic framework

Students in Middle School explore a broad range of subjects divided across interdisciplinary Units.

The Units are concept based and examine knowledge holistically. Cross-curricular links are created involving two or more subject areas. Students explore issues and ideas of personal, local and global significance. This means students can strengthen their independent learning skills and begin to pursue specific learning interests.

“I love the fact that we uncover all kind of connections in class. I feel like an explorer.”

– SIS MYP student

The MYP curriculum covers:

  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Arts – Music, Visual Arts, Drama and Media
  • Individuals and Societies
  • Language and Literature (English, Swedish and EAL)
  • Language Acquisition (Swedish, Spanish, French and English)
  • Design – Product design and digital design
  • Physical and Health Education

It’s my Personal Project

The Personal Project (PP) subject is chosen by each student. Students pick topics they feel passionate about, that reflect who they are or what matters to them as people.

The PP reflects SIS’s inquiry-based learning approach and allows students to exhibit the skills and knowledge they have developed throughout the programme. The teacher acts as more of a guide, directing students as they research and explore with a deeper level of engagement.

Please note, the Personal Project is completed during MYP5 while students are in the Upper School.

How am I doing?

To monitor the progress of each student, assessment and grading happens continually, and at the end of each unit. The criteria is set by the International Baccalaureate with grades being issued mid-year and at the completion of the academic year. Grades are awarded to students, for each subject and for the Personal Project (in Grade 10).