Dear Parents,

I would like to welcome you to the first KGV MYP Newsletter. You will receive these every term and they will keep you up to date with everything happening with students in year 7,8 and 9 as they progress through the IB Middle Years Program at KGV. Below I have compiled resources and information which I hope will answer your questions about what your child can expect from the IB Middle Years Program at KGV.

You will no doubt be feeling anxious and excited about your son or daughter coming to KGV in August. There has been lots of information coming to you about the practical and administrative side of KGV so to avoid duplication the information in this newsletter will explain what you can expect specifically in the MYP Curriculum.

Since the English School Foundation made the decision in 2015 that all Secondary School would adopt the IB Middle Years Program in Years 7-9, teachers at KGV have been working hard to create a rigorous and inquiry focused curriculum which prepares students for the modern world.

As a school we have undertaken extensive training in all areas of the MYP framework, we have dedicated specific time in the week to planning and reflection of the new curriculum. We have also been working closely with our colleagues at Discovery and Renaissance College who have both been doing the MYP for the last ten years as well as drawing on an extensive network of professionals from around the world who have been involved with the MYP for many years.

You will shortly be receiving information regarding the Year 7 Induction Program for the first week of term in August. As part of this program you will be invited in on Thursday the 17th of August to see the work your children have done over the induction days and you will have the opportunity to meet teachers and representatives of the different subjects. I very much hope I can meet as many of you as possible on that day.

I have had the good fortune to speak to many of your already either through information evenings, workshops and coffee mornings and while there will be many more opportunities to come I sincerely hope we keep these conversations going while your child is going through the Middle Years Program.

I hope you find the information below useful and a starting point in understanding the KGV Middle Years Program.

I wish you and your families an enjoyable end of term and a restful summer vacation.

Best Wishes.

Dave Findlay

KGV MYP Coordinator

david.findlay@kgv.edu.hk

From August 2017 students in Year 7 will study the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) for three years. This builds on the concept-based, transdisciplinary PYP programme by focusing on concept driven disciplinary and interdisciplinary learning and continuing to develop the learner profile within a community of learners.

Teaching and learning in the MYP is framed by inquiry, action and reflection. Or more simply asking, doing and thinking. Students will be taught by subject specialists across the eight learning areas to enable students to engage in purposeful inquiry in a robust academic setting. Each topic is concept driven and set within a global context.

Conceptual learning focuses on organizing ideas that have relevance within and across subject groups. Concepts help to integrate learning for the student and deepen disciplinary understanding while building capacity to engage with complex ideas and apply them in new situations.

Global contexts in planning and teaching helps students engage in purposeful learning by providing relevance and meaning of how their learning fits into the world.

The aim of the MYP being to empower students for a lifetime of learning both independently and in collaboration with others.

Q: In the Primary Years Program all learning is done through a unit of inquiry and specific subjects are not taught, is this the same in MYP?

A: The Middle Years Program continues with units of inquiry but these are taught within separate subjects.

Q: How are the separate subjects arranged?

A: Your child will learn in eight subject groupings:

Language and Literature (English and 1st Language Chinese)

Language Acquisition (French, German Spanish, 2nd and foreign language Chinese)

Individuals and Societies (PRS, Geography and History)

Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics)

Design (Digital Design and Combined Design)

PHE (Physical Education and Liberal Personal Studies)

Maths

Arts (Performing and Visual Arts)

Q: Will there be exams at the end?

A: MYP Students are continually assessed in a variety of ways. Some subjects will on occasion opt to assess with exam style assessments if that benefits the needs of the students however there are NO formal exams at the end of the Middle Years Program. At the end of Year 9 students will engage in the MYP Community Project.

Q: MYP Community Project?

A: The Community Project is a group project which student will undertake at the end of year 9. It is expected that students will be able to demonstrate their learning taking knowledge and ideas from several areas and apply them in service of their community.

Q: What about interdisciplinary learning?

A: Interdisciplinary Learning is key part of the Middle Years Program. KGV teachers have an excellent understanding of what is going on in the eight subjects areas. As such students are able to see natural links and commonalities between the subject areas and use these to deepen their own understanding and apply it beyond the classroom. We are required to formally assess at least one interdisciplinary unit in each year of the program.

Q: How often a year will students be assessed?

A: Students will be assessed continuously through a variety of methods. It is a requirement of the MYP that students are assessed on each of the four criteria per subject twice a year. (Please see the table below for the subject criteria).

Q: How will teachers assess students work?

A: In line with established practice and educational research teachers at KGV use a variety of methods to assess the work of students. These include formative, interim, summative and diagnostic methods.

When an assessment is set in class the teacher will share the task with the students along with the criteria being assessed. Supporting the IB Criteria are a series of descriptors which are designed to help students understand how they can achieve their best in each task.

Q: How will I know that my child has acquired skills and knowledge that will be enough to carry them forward into the world of work?

A: The MYP is a curriculum framework which has been in development since 1978 and has constantly evolved to serve the educational needs of middle school learners in an international setting.

The program is used by over 1300 schools world wide (over 900 of which are in North America, the UK and Europe). All of these schools are are held to rigorous standards by the IBO. Through consistent, high quality assessment and feedback your child will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to carry them forward to IGCSE, IB Diploma, BTEC and beyond.

Q: Will there be any setting or streaming of classes in the MYP?

A: The MYP is an inclusive program which is designed to use a high level of differentiation to make the curriculum accessible to all students.

This means that for the most part classes will be mixed. For students who have more significant needs then provision will be made in a way which benefits the students and allows them to engage with the curriculum in an appropriate way.

In Maths units of inquiry will begin in a mixed setting and then evolve into a flexible grouping dependent on student need and engagement with the topic. This allows for a much more flexible approach to differentiation.

Q: Will there be homework?

A: KGV has a policy of home learning which directs teachers to set learning for outside the classroom. This is appropriate and will enrich and benefit a students understanding of their lessons.

However students will not be given "finish it off at home" type work. Quality time at home with family is as important to a child's development as academics and an increasing body of research suggests that "homework for the sake it of homework" offers no benefit to a child's social and academic development.

Since 2015 Most of KGV teachers have undergone professional development related to the IB Middle Years Program. KGV had it's own MYP Launch Day in September 2016 where all our staff received training in implementing and delivering the MYP. In February 2017 at the end of the CNY break many staff attended the three day MYP courses which were being held at renaissance college in Ma on Shan

Email: david.findlay@kgv.edu.hk
Website: www.kgv.edu.hk
Location: King George V School, Hong Kong
Phone: +85227113029