Middle School (Grade 6 to 8) 

Students in Grades 6 to 8 follow the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP).  The MYP is a challenging framework that encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world, preparing them for success in further studies and in life.  The MYP aims to develop active learners and internationally minded young people who can empathise with others and pursue lives of purpose and meaning.  The programme empowers students to inquire into a wide range of issues and ideas of significance locally, nationally and globally. The MYP encourages young people to be creative, critical and reflective learners, capable of transferring their knowledge, skills and understandings across contexts and disciplines. 

The MYP is a five-year programme which students continue in Grade 9 and 10 in High School.  Students who complete the MYP are very well-prepared to undertake the IB Diploma Programme (DP) or Career-related Programme (CP) in Grade 11 and 12.  
 

The MYP comprises eight subject groups with students at VIS studying the following subjects: 

- English Language & Literature
- Mathematics
- Coordinated Science
- Individuals and Societies (I&S)
- Language Acquisition - French, Italian or Spanish
- Language Acquisition - Maltese 
- Physical & Health Education (PHE)
- Music
- Theatre
- Visual Art
- Design

The Middle Years Programme (MYP) helps students develop both subject-specific and interdisciplinary understanding. The 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 help students to connect and explore big ideas that really matter in today’s and tomorrow’s world.
• Global Contexts help students understand the relevance and importance of what they are studying through real world scenarios and situations that promote our common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet.