IB Middle Years Programme (Gr 9 & 10)
Verdala International School became fully authorised, by the International Baccalaureate, to teach the Middle Years Programme curriculum in June 2024. High School students in Grades 9 and 10 are enrolled in Year 4 and Year 5, respectfully, of the five-year programme. The school’s first group of students to complete the MYP will be the current Grade 10 cohort of the 2024/2025 academic year. Students who complete the MYP are well-prepared to undertake the IB Diploma Programme (DP) or Career-related Programme (CP) in Grades 11 and 12.
The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognising their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.
Verdala International School is committed to providing students with a wide range of courses that will lay a solid foundation for later entry into the school’s International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme.
Grade 9 and Grade 10 MYP students at VIS have the following subject choices:
| Block | Subjects | Grade 9 and 10 Course Options | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | English Language and Literature | English Language and Literature | |||||
| B | Individuals and Societies | Integrated Humanities | |||||
| C | Well-Being | Well-Being | |||||
| D | Science | Integrated Sciences |
Grade 10 Only Integrated Sciences or Choose Two: Biology, Chemistry, Physics |
||||
| E | Language Acquisition 1 | French Phase 3/4 | Italian Phase 3/4 | Spanish Phase 3/4 | VIS English Language Support | ||
| F | Arts and Computer Science | Visual Arts | Music | Theatre | Computer Science | ||
| G | Language Acquisition 2 and Design | French Phase 1/2 | Spanish Phase 1/2 | Maltese | Digital Design | ||
| H | Physical and Health Education | Recreational | Mixed | Competitive | |||
| I | Mathematics | Standard Mathematics | Extended Mathematics | ||||
In Year 4 and Year 5, students engage in at least one collaboratively planned interdisciplinary unit that involves at least two disciplines, either from the same subject group. The MYP Personal Project is a student-centred and age-appropriate extended project in which students consolidate their learning throughout the programme. It is an independent inquiry that is personal to each MYP year 5 student. Service as Action is a foundational element of the MYP. It seeks to develop caring members of the community who act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and their environment. (Sourced from https://ibo.org/)
In Grade 10/Year 5 of the MYP, students have the opportunity to receive the MYP Certificate or MYP Course Results, both serving as formal qualifications awarded by the International Baccalaureate. To receive the MYP Certificate, students complete:
- Two-hour computer-based eAssessments in English Language & Literature; Language Acquisition in French, Italian, or Spanish; Individuals & Societies; Sciences; Mathematics; and Interdisciplinary Learning.
- ePortfolios (coursework) in the form of Language Acquisitions, French, Italian, or Spanish-speaking Exams; and choose between Design, Arts, or Physical & Health Education.
- Personal Project
- The school’s requirements for participation in Service as Action
The MYP Certificate is awarded to students who gain at least 28 points of the total 56 points, across 8 subject components, and meet the school’s requirements for participation in Service as Action.
Students also have the option to earn MYP Course Results in individual subjects by completing specific eAssessments and/or ePortfolios. (Sourced from https://ibo.org/)