International Baccalaureate (IB)Middle Years Programme (MYP)TAS IS A CANDIDATE SCHOOL FOR THE IB MYP PROGRAMME
TAS Middle School is pleased to be a candidate school for the
introduction of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle
Years Programme (MYP). Being accepted as a candidate
school is the first stage in the full adoption of the MYP which
will take up to 2 years and is a journey that we will take with
students, staff and parents together, and is one that will be for
the overwhelming benefit of our Middle School students.
The introduction of the MYP is very exciting because it will
enable our Middle School students to develop into more
engaged, creative, globally aware senior students and this lies
at the heart of our adoption of the MYP. Its introduction will
be incremental and will not affect the NSW curriculum that
is taught at TAS. However it will change the way it is taught,
allowing for greater freedom to explore inter-disciplinary
learning through global contexts, promote critical thinking
and engender heightened creativity and expression.
Mr Mark Harrison Head of Middle School
Ms Rachel Harrison MYP Coordinator
What is the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme?The IB MYP is an approach to education that is internationally
recognised as being one that prepares students to become
creative, critical and reflective thinkers through its unique
system of academic rigour and a focus on personal growth.
The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring,
knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better
and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and
respect.
An IB education is based upon some compelling objectives:
1. A student centred focus in academic programs, promoting
healthy relationships, ethical responsibility and personal
challenge
2. Developing effective approaches to teaching and learning
for both academic and personal success
3. Working within a global context increasing understanding
of languages and cultures, international ideas and issues
4. Exploring curriculum content that is broad and balanced,
conceptual and connected.
The IB Learner Profile effectively outlines the skills we want all
our Middle School students to develop and lies at the heart of
the Middle Years Programme.
© International Baccalaureate Organization 2015
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Why are we adopting the Middle Years Programme?The opportunity to introduce the Middle Years Programme
has come about because of changes to the IB regulations that
now allows for a three-year program to be introduced instead
of the five-year program. It fits perfectly with our whole-school
academic strategy; the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) is
now implemented in Junior School and our Senior School
begins with our very successful elective choice structure for
Years 9 and 10 before the focus and attention is turned to the
HSC program of Years 11 and 12. The natural fit of the MYP
within this framework is exciting and better prepares our
students better for Senior School.
As all our parents are aware, TAS is a member of the Round
Square group of schools and as such we believe in the Round
Square IDEALS upon which membership is based and we
actively pursue involvement in all areas. One of the early
influencers of the development of the IB was Dr Kurt Hahn who
also founded Outward Bound, the Duke of Edinburgh Award
Scheme and – interestingly – Round Square. Dr Hahn’s influence
was founded in his believe that education should include
physical fitness challenge and adventure, a sense of compassion
through service and development of self-reliance and self-
discipline.
INTERNATIONALISM – students see themselves as global citizens and look beyond
gender, class, race, nationality and culture
DEMOCRACY – freedom of thought and speech is encouraged and communication channels are set in place
ENVIRONMENTALISM – students learn about the fine balance and interdependence between humans and the planet
ADVENTURE – schools offer activities that foster a spirit of adventure to discover they are capable of more than they might have imagined
LEADERSHIP – students learn true leadership is serving others and is found in those whose
convictions are rooted in personal responsibility, kindness and justice
SERVICE – students come face to face with the plight of those in most need around the world and realise they can make a positive difference through service.
These natural synergies between the IB mission and the Round
Square IDEALS affirm the TAS education philosophy - that
education should be about the holistic development of the
child also lends itself to the adoption of the Middle Years
Programme. Particularly in today’s world, appreciating the
broader global context in which we live and the diversity within
it gives our students an academic edge.
ROUND SQUAREIDEALS
How are we implementing it?What will change?
One of the most profound changes that we expect to see in our
Middle School students will be in their levels of engagement
with their academic work as they become more familiar with
becoming ‘inquiry-based learners’.
In an MYP classroom, you’ll notice that the students are at the
centre of learning. They are drawing connections between
all subject areas and learning is explicitly linked to the world
around them. It is already a requirement in Middle School to
study a foreign language and this becomes more profound
when MYP learning experiences infuse global points of view
wherever possible in order to promote understanding of
other cultures, an awareness of the human condition and
an understanding that there is a commonality of human
experience.
What is taught?
Of course, the introduction of the MYP will not change the fact
that the NESA (NSW Education Standards Authority) curriculum
is still followed, however the names of specific subjects will alter
slightly. The MYP framework comprises eight subject groups
providing a broad and balanced education for early adolescents.
Students take the core courses of: language and literature,
individuals and societies, mathematics, sciences, physical and
health education, language acquisition, arts, and design.
A common language around the Middle Years Programme will
be slowly introduced and students will become accustomed
to the new framework over time. The year has started with a
new subject in all Middle School years called ‘Approaches To
Learning’ that explicitly teaches communication, social and self-
management, research and thinking skills.
What is the Year 8 Community project?
For parents of Year 8 students, the introduction of the MYP
Community Project will also be a notable change this year. The
Community Project is one the most rewarding major works
students will engage with. Students work in small groups,
research a ‘need’ in their community and then act on that need
to develop a solution. The length of time students must work on
this project is, in itself, worthy of mention.
The significance of this Community Project is, in effect,
comparable to a ‘major work’ undertaken by senior students
and it is the reason this is such powerful component of the MYP.
It takes considerable effort to manage the need identification,
research solutions and prepare final reports and exhibition
materials but with the support of staff, it results in students who
are better prepared for the rigours of later academic demands.
It is an empowering project that will culminate in an exhibition
to parents, staff and the whole school and is something we can
all look forward to.
What physical changes will you see?
The physical spaces around Middle School will also start to
reflect the changes that the IB will bring; modern learning
spaces, discussion booths, collaborative areas for group work
just to name a few. It will take time to unfold as the program
is rolled out and students’ confidence in IB methodology is
nurtured.
The TAS Library is the location of the IB Hub where our IB
coordinators have an office in the heart of one of the most
active areas of the school. The number of students who come
to the library to study, join a tutorial after school or work
collaboratively with others has grown exponentially since the
introduction of the Extended Day Program at the beginning of
2018. Boarders and Day students alike are using this fantastic
space to pursue their academic goals any time from 7:30 in the
morning until 9:00pm. Having the IB hub in the heart of this
re-energised space is a logical move.
The IB Team at TAS
As the only school in the New England/ North West to be an
authorised IB World School, we are very proud of the way our
teachers have embraced this new framework for teaching
and learning. They intrinsically understand the opportunities
and benefits the IB brings to our students and are actively
undertaking the necessary and ongoing Professional
Development. It will take time for all staff to complete this
important PD, but we are starting with the Middle School Home
Room teachers and our senior subject co-ordinators.
There is a dedicated team working on the full implementation
of the IB Middle Years Programme that is responsible for all
pedagogical and practical elements of its introduction. They
meet regularly to ensure that this transition is as smooth as
possible and students and staff alike are central in all stages.
This team includes:
Ms Rachel Harrison MYP Coordinator and Mathematics TeacherMrs Seonia Wark Director of StudiesMr Mark Harrison Head of Middle SchoolMr Luke Polson Assistant Director of Studies and Middle School Teacher
TAS MYP Co-ordinator – Ms Rachel Harrison
Rachel started at TAS in 2015 having arrived from the UK
where she worked at a co-ed Middle School before moving to
Australia. She studied a BA(Hons) Middle Years Mathematics
Education at Liverpool John Moores University and then went
on to complete a Master of Education at UNE.
Rachel is a Senior Mathematics teacher at TAS, is the MIC of
Netball and an Advisor but has always had a focus and passion
about middle years education. With her appointment as MYP
Co-ordinator she is now placed at the centre of the team
responsible for the implementation of the MYP.
“I am very excited to be a part of
the TAS IB journey and working
closely with our Middle School
students, in order to develop
an approach to learning that
empowers students to thrive”
Rachel Harrison
www.ibo.org© International Baccalaureate Organization 2013 International Baccalaureate® | Baccalauréat International® | Bachillerato Internacional®
The IB Middle Years ProgrammePreparing students to be successful in school
and to be active, lifelong learners
www.as.edu.au
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