Middle Years Program

The Middle Years Program (MYP) is specifically designed for students aged 11 - 16. Comprising of 8 subject areas, the program aims to help students develop their personal understanding, their emerging sense of self, and a sense of responsibility in their community. The MYP is a challenging framework that encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world.

Subject areas

Throughout Grades 6 to 10, students will engage in learning from each following subject areas:

• Group 1 - English & Japanese Language and Literature

• Group 2 - Japanese & English Language Acquisition

• Group 3 - Individuals & Societies 

• Group 4 - Sciences

• Group 5 - Mathematics

• Group 6 - Physical Health Education

• Group 7 - The Arts (Music, Art & Theater)

• Group 8 - Design

All subject areas are compulsory. There is the opportunity for students to choose a specific discipline to focus on during Grade 9 and 10 in the Arts. In Grades 6 to 8, students study a rotation of Music, Art and Theater and in Grades 9 to 10, students are able to select their choice of arts discipline and follow this chosen discipline for that year.

Service As Action

Action (learning by doing and experiencing) and service have always been key values at FIS. The school fosters and encourages students to be caring members of the community who demonstrate a commitment to service, making a positive impact on the lives of others and the environment. Throughout their Middle School experience, students will engage in various community service activities to help them on their journey to becoming globally minded citizens. Service as Action is an important part of the MYP curriculum where students work collaboratively to plan and initiate activities whilst reflecting on the ethical and global implications of their own actions.

 Through their engagement with Service As Action, FIS students will: 

• Become more aware of their own strengths and areas for growth. 

• Undertake challenges that develop new skills.

• Discuss, evaluate and plan student-initiated activities. 

• Persevere in action. 

• Work collaboratively with others. 

• Develop international-mindedness through global engagement, multilingualism and intercultural understanding.

• Consider the ethical implications of their actions.

Personal Project

In Grade 10 (the final year of the MYP), students complete a Personal Project. This is a capstone project designed to celebrate the skills developed in the MYP, whilst providing an opportunity to develop important skills needed in further education and life beyond the classroom. The Personal Project involves exploring an area of personal interest over an extended period of time. Students will set a goal, research, plan and develop a product (or work towards an outcome) in response to this goal - and eventually present their findings to the FIS community through an exhibition.

Advisory Program

Each Secondary School student is a member of a homeroom class (called “Advisory”) with two or more Advisory teachers. Students meet with their Advisory class for 10-minutes at the beginning of every day as well as scheduled 55-minute Advisory lessons throughout the year. Advisory classes provide another avenue of support and pastoral care for our students. Our Advisory program and extended Advisory lessons are designed to equip our students with the skills necessary to become self-empowered, socially-adaptable, responsible decision-makers.