Middle Years Overview & Philosophy
The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme is designed for students aged 11 to 16.
Xi’an Hanova International School is fully authorized to offer its students the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) – one of four programmes offered by the IB. It is a programme of international education designed to help students develop the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and skills necessary to participate actively and responsibly in a changing world.
This period, encompassing early puberty and mid-adolescence, is a particularly critical phase of personal and intellectual development and requires a programme that helps students participate actively and responsibly in a changing and increasingly interrelated world. Learning how to learn and how to evaluate information critically is more important than simply learning facts and these skills are specifically addressed through the approaches to learning which is planned in each unit taught.
Assessment, Projects & Service
Assessment and Reporting
The Middle Years Programme differs significantly from other systems currently, as it values a variety of forms of assessment. The final grade is not based purely on one final end of year examination, and is instead arrived at through continuous assessment, and the holistic professional judgment of the teacher. The MYP utilises a criterion related system, where student achievement is measured in bands according to the Year level and subject.
Each individual subject has four criteria (A, B, C, D), and these are ranked from 0-8, with 8 being the highest level of achievement. For more information about our MYP Assessment Policy, please contact Ms Sandy Trull, MYP and Pastoral Coordinator (sandy.trull@his-xian.com). Report cards are distributed twice a year: at the end of each semester.
Personal Project
At the end of the Middle Years Programme, the IB requires students in year 11 to undertake the Personal Project. The Personal Project is a 6-8 month project and is a unique opportunity for students to independently design and undertake an activity from inception through to completion, and promotes creativity and reflection. Each student is allocated a supervisor, who, in turn, ensures that the student is making satisfactory progress and that they are moving in the right direction.
Service as Action
At Hanova, Service as Action is integrated into the academic curriculum. We believe in the importance of students taking an active role in the communities in which they live, to improve the lives of those around them. Service as Action can be performed at local, regional, national, and international levels. By helping those in need, students will have a greater understanding of the ways communities work and the problems communities face. By working together, each of us can understand how we can make a difference. The Service as Action Programme has specific learning expectations, and progress for these are tracked through inception to completion on Managebac – our student, teacher and parental curriculum portal. Students are required to reflect on their contributions in relation to the learning expectations set out by the Service as Action Programme.
There are a number of ways to get involved and learn from others in the community. Here are a few examples:
- Reading to younger children
- Raising awareness of global issues
- Working with those with disabilities
- Collecting non-perishable foods and clothing for donation
- Tutoring students who need extra help
- Helping international organisations
- Teaching English to foreign students
- Cleaning up areas of the city or other environmentally-friendly activities
- Mentoring younger children or providing care for those in need
- Raising money or supplies for victims of fires, floods, or other disasters
- Volunteering your time and talents in ANY capacity to help improve the lives of others is a perfect example of serving the community.
Our Curriculum
The Middle Years Programme groups subjects into 8 distinct learning areas. These are:
- Language and Literature (English)
- Language and Literature (Chinese)
- Language and Literature (Korean)
- Language Acquisition (English)
- Language Acquisition (Chinese)
- Individuals and Societies (Humanities / Geography (only in Year 11))
- Sciences
- Mathematics
- Arts (Visual Art, Music and Drama)
- Physical and Health Education and
- Design
In Year 7, 8 & 9 all 8-subject groups are covered holistically, and in Year 10 & 11 students have choices within the groups. Their choices should be based on consultations with their teachers, parents, homeroom teachers and our university and careers counsellor.
