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What is the 'International Baccalaureate (IB)' and the 'Middle Years Programme (MYP)'?
What is the 'International Baccalaureate (IB)' and the 'Middle Years Programme (MYP)'?
The International Baccalaureate (IB) is an internationally recognised educational foundation offering a range of programmes aimed at developing well-rounded, globally minded individuals. Among these is the Middle Years Programme (MYP), designed specifically for students aged 11 to 16.
It emphasises holistic learning, intercultural understanding, and critical thinking skills. It's important to note that the IB and the MYP are not a curriculum; they are frameworks that encourage inquiry-based learning, community engagement, and personal development. This means that we continue to build and structure our curriculum around the topics or content we believe are most suitable and appropriate for Snowfields Students. However the MYP encourages us to reflect on the overarching themes of this, along with how we can deliver it whilst challenging students to become owners of their own learning journey.
There are currently no SEN schools who have successfully completed the process to become an official IB World School. (This is a status you achieve following 2 years of candidacy and the completion of a rigorous Authorisation process.) Snowfields Academy are soon to approach the final stages of this process with an Authorisation visit. Providing this goes as expected Snowfields Academy will be the first SEN MYP School in the world!
There are many components to a successful Middle Years Programme, however these are designed with a mainstream model in mind. The IB have recognised that for the implementation of the programme to be a success at Snowfields Academy, then we need to work collaboratively to identify any areas which we believe are not suitable or appropriate for our students, and where these occur, what we would propose instead. These points of difference are incredibly important for both Snowfields and the IB, as these represent the foundations of what will become an SEN specific programme which other schools in the UK and internationally could seek to adopt. The responsibility to get this implementation right is significant, if and when we build this, Snowfields Academy will have served as a driving force in potentially impacting and benefitting SEN education around the world.
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