What is the MYP?
A framework for curious, connected and meaningful learning
The Middle Years Programme (MYP) is the International Baccalaureate framework for students aged 11 to 16. It combines subject depth with conceptual learning, helping students make connections across disciplines and between school and the wider world. The MYP encourages students to think critically, communicate clearly and take growing responsibility for their learning. At OIA Secondary, this supports the kind of education we believe in: academically ambitious, internationally minded and grounded in strong relationships. It helps students develop not only knowledge, but also the confidence, reflection and independence they need for the years ahead.
Increasing depth, challenge and independence
Growing into more demanding learning
Depth & Understanding
In Secondary, learning combines subject depth with conceptual understanding.
Meaningful Contexts
Students are challenged to think critically and apply their learning in meaningful contexts.
Growing Responsibility
Students work with increasing independence and take on growing responsibility for their journey.
Interdisciplinary Learning and Global Contexts
Making connections across subjects and the wider world
Although subjects become more distinct in Secondary, students do not learn them in isolation. Interdisciplinary learning helps them make connections across subjects and use knowledge from different areas to explore more complex ideas and real-world issues. This is a distinctive feature of the Middle Years Programme (MYP), which uses concepts and contexts to support meaningful transfer of learning.
The MYP frames learning through global contexts, helping students understand why their
learning matters:
Identities and Relationships
Personal and cultural expression
Orientations in space and time
Scientific and technical innovation
Fairness and Development
Globalization and sustainability
Learning across subjects and concepts
The MYP subjects groups and conceptual understanding
A distinctive feature of the MYP is that students learn through subject groups, while also using concepts to connect ideas within and across disciplines. This balance supports both academic rigour and a broader understanding of how knowledge works in the world.
Students develop knowledge and skills through the following subject groups:
- Language and Literature: English
- Language Acquisition: Dutch, French, or Chinese
- English
- Individuals and Societies: Geography, History
- Sciences
- Mathematics
- Arts: Visual Arts, Music, Drama
- Physical and Health Education
- Design
Learner Profile and Approaches to Learning
Becoming more independent and reflective
The IB learner profile helps make visible the kind of learners and people we want students to become. As students grow in maturity and independence, they are encouraged to develop attributes such as being thinkers, communicators, reflective and balanced in increasingly thoughtful ways across subjects, collaboration and decision-making.
Approaches to Learning support this by helping students develop the skills they need to learn well and with growing independence. In practice, this includes organising their work, managing time, collaborating effectively, reflecting on feedback, conducting research and communicating their thinking clearly. The IB describes these skills broadly as thinking, communication, research, self-management and social skills.
Learning in context, service and impact
Using learning with purpose
In the MYP, students learn to connect classroom learning to the world around them. They explore personal, local and global issues, use their knowledge in meaningful contexts and begin to understand that their choices and actions can make a difference.
This helps students grow not only in what they know, but also in how they participate, contribute and respond to the needs of others and the wider world. This emphasis on responsibility in community is part of the MYP’s stated aims.
Partnership with parents
Staying connected as independence grows
Students develop best when parents and school work together. In Secondary, that partnership continues to matter, even as students grow in independence. Regular communication and clear insight into learning help us support each student both academically and personally.
We want parents to understand not only how their child is progressing in school, but also how they are growing in responsibility, confidence and independence as they prepare for the next stage — during Secondary and in the years beyond.
Experience OIA Secondary
Join our Open Days or meet the team. You’re more than welcome!
Next steps
Explore how this approach takes shape in practice: