The International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) was first created in 1980. This article charts its historical origins and growth. It offers a critical overview of the operation of the MYP revealing both its geographical distribution disparities and the current picture in terms of external moderation of student work. There are several emerging themes of concern. The exact role of the MYP within the IB ‘continuum’ can be questioned, while the MYP is a complex programme in terms of its philosophy and structure, and remains a little researched and seemingly little understood curriculum.
AlbrightonM (2011) Introducing the MYP in a national context: a UK independent school perspective. In: HaydenMThompsonJ (eds) Taking the MYP Forward. Woodbridge: John Catt Educational, 170–179.
2.
ArmstrongR (2000) The holistic nature of the MYP: a return to the fundamentals. International Schools Journal20(1): 18–23.
3.
ArmstrongR (2001) Developing student assessment procedures within the MYP. IB Research Notes1(4): 3–10.
4.
BarnesD (1998) And then there were three: IB programmes that is. International Schools Journal18(1): 44–49.
5.
BartlettK (1997) Articulating the international curriculum: part 2: continuity through outcomes. International Schools Journal17(1): 50–57.
6.
BeardJ (2008) Preparing today’s IB for tomorrow’s world. Presentation by IBO Director General Jeffrey Beard, IB Africa, Europe, Middle East Regional Conference, October 2008. Available at: http://www.ibo.org/ibaem/conferences/documents/JeffBeard.pdf (accessed 12 May 2009).
BunnellT (2010a) The momentum behind the International Primary Curriculum in England. Journal of Curriculum Studies42(4): 471–486.
9.
BunnellT (2010b) The International Baccalaureate in the United States: from relative inactivity to imbalance. The Educational Forum75(1): 66–79.
10.
ChaninE (2006) Interview with Frank Furedi. AQ: Australian Quarterly78(2): 34–37.
11.
ChapmanM (2011) Evolving the middle years curriculum in practice. In: HaydenMThompsonJ (eds) Taking the MYP Forward. Woodbridge: John Catt Educational, 193–202.
12.
CodringtonS (2002) The pain of curriculum change: the challenge of implementing the MYP. IB World32: 18–19.
13.
ConnM (2001) Assessment in the MYP. IB World29: 18–19.
14.
CowieC (2010) From PYP into MYP: articulating IB Programmes within the context of the transition from elementary to middle school. Unpublished MA thesis, Universidad de los Andes.
15.
CurtisP (2009) Warning that new GCSEs will result in higher grades. Guardian19March. Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk (accessed 9 May 2009).
16.
DuffyTCunninghamD (1996) Constructivism: implications for the design and delivery of instruction. Handbook of Research for Educational Communications and Technology40(4): 170–198.
17.
EllwoodC (1999) IGCSE and IB MYP: how compatible are they?International Schools Journal19(1): 35–44.
18.
FieldJ (2011) Subject-based, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to the MYP. In: HaydenMThompsonJ (eds) Taking the MYP Forward. Woodbridge: John Catt Educational, 63–78.
19.
FreanA (2008) School ready to ditch ‘boring’ GCSEs for baccalaureate at 16. The Times16December. Available at: http://www.timesonline.co.uk (accessed 9 May 2009).
20.
GardnerH (1983) Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. New York: Basic Books.
21.
GardnerHBoix-MansillaV (1995) Teaching for understanding – within and across disciplines. Educational Leadership51(5): 14–18.
22.
Gazda-GraveP (2002) Psst … have you heard about the International Baccalaureate Program?The Clearing House76(2): 84–87.
23.
GrewalA (2001) The MYP and the IGCSE: compatibility or conflicting programmes?Unpublished MA thesis, Oxford Brookes University.
24.
GuyJ (2000) IB MYP and IGCSE: how compatible are they? A response to Caroline Ellwood, Part 1. International Schools Journal20(1): 10–17.
25.
GuyJ (2001) IB MYP and IGCSE: how compatible are they? Part 2. International Schools Journal21(1): 11–18.
26.
Hartwell RemingtonC (1999) A comparison of student achievement in two thoughtfully designed middle level programmes: the IB MYP and the American Middle School. Unpublished PhD thesis, Duquesne University, Pennsylvania.
27.
HaydenMThompsonJ (eds) (2011) Taking the MYP Forward. Woodbridge: John Catt Educational.
28.
HillI (2001) Early stirrings: the beginnings of the international education movement. International Schools Journal20(2): 11–21.
29.
HillI (2007) International education as developed by the IBO. In: HaydenMLevyJThompsonJ (eds) The SAGE Handbook of Research in International Education. Thousands Oaks, CA: SAGE, 25–37.
30.
HillI (2010a) The International Baccalaureate: Pioneering in Education (The International Schools Journal Compendium, Volume IV). Woodbridge: John Catt Educational.
31.
HillI (2010b) History of the IB and issues for the future. Presentation by Ian Hill, Deputy Director-General, IB Asia-Pacific Regional Conference, Singapore, March 2010. Available at: http://www.ibo.org/ibap/conference/archive/documents/IanHill.pdf (accessed 4 November 2010).
32.
HirstPPetersR (1970) The Logic of Education. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
33.
HorsingtonJ (2007) What ways can schools support a transition from MYP to DP?Unpublished PhD thesis, Michigan State University, Michigan.
JacksonD (2006) The IB MYP: a comparison of the standards of learning achievement levels by total group and ethnicity. Unpublished PhD thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
39.
JoshiK (2005) An inquiry into the management of change involved in introducing and implementing a ‘marriage’ of the IB MYP and the IGCSE at Munich International School. Unpublished MA thesis, University of Bath, England.
40.
MatthewsM (2009) Challenging the IB: a personal view, post-Seville. The International Educator24(2): 19–20.
41.
McPheeS (2002) The MYP: an alternative vision of the middle years. Independent School61(4): 36–41.
MimmackBVanierR (2005) The history of MYP moderation. IB World42: 8–9.
44.
MorrisonN (2009) GCSE your time is up. Times Educational Supplement24April. Available at: http://www.tes.co.uk (accessed 9 May 2011).
45.
Nashman-SmithMTaylorR (2004) Integrating the IB MYP and IGCSE: Report on the International Conference held in Muscat, Oman, 10–12 March 2004. International Schools Journal24(1): 19–25.
46.
NicolsonM (2002) The MYP: a key role in international education. IB World33: 8–10.
O’BoyleE (2009) Whispers from within: students’ perceptions of the first year of the IB MYP in an international school. Journal of Research in International Education8(1): 30–56.
49.
O’BoyleE (2011) Creativity and the MYP. In: HaydenMThompsonJ (eds) Taking the MYP Forward. Woodbridge: John Catt Educational, 79–94.
50.
PerkinsDSalomonG (1989) Are cognitive skills context bound?Educational Researcher18(1): 16–25.
51.
PetersonA (1972) The International Baccalaureate: An Experiment in International Education (First Edition). London: George G. Harrap and Co. Ltd.
52.
PhenixP (1964) The Realms of Meaning: A Philosophy of the Curriculum for General Education. New York: McGraw-Hill.
53.
RavitchD (2007) EdSpeak: A Glossary of Education Terms, Phrases, Buzzwords, and Jargon. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
54.
ReimersC (2004). From MYP to Diploma: an investigation into the impact of IB MYP on IB Diploma candidates. International Schools Journal24(2): 11–18.
55.
RenaudG (1991) The International Schools Association: historical and philosophical background. In: JonietzPHarrisD (eds) International Schools and International Education. The World Yearbook of Education 1991. London: Kogan Page.
56.
RobertsonJE (2011) The role of the MYP co-ordinator. In: HaydenMThompsonJ (eds) Taking the MYP Forward. Woodbridge: John Catt Educational, 145–160.
SeldonA (2009) Think tank: new ideas for the 21st century: exams are failing our schools. The Times22March. Available at: http://www.timesonline.co.uk (accessed 10 May 2011).
SpahnB (2001) America and the International Baccalaureate. Saxmundham: John Catt Educational.
61.
SperandioJ (2010) School program selection: why schools worldwide choose the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program. Journal of School Choice4(2): 137–148.
62.
SternbergR (1985) Beyond IQ: A Triarchic Theory of Human Intelligence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
63.
StewartW (2010) IB for all is preferable to ‘schizophrenic’ status quo, argues Wellington head. Times Educational Supplement8October. Available at: http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6060288 (accessed 3 November 2010).
64.
StobieT (2001) Teaching pupils how to learn. IB World3(3): 11.
65.
StobieT (2005) A consideration of the extent to which the MYP and DP of the IBO provide a coherent and consistent educational continuum. Unpublished EdD thesis, University of Bath.
66.
StoutW (2011) The middle years of schooling: some thoughts for the future. In: HaydenMThompsonJ (eds) Taking the MYP Forward. Woodbridge: John Catt Educational, 203–214.
67.
TarcP (2007) What is the ‘international’ of the International Baccalaureate? Towards a periodization of IB in the world. Unpublished PhD Thesis, University of York (Ontario).
68.
TarcP (2009a) Global Dreams, Enduring Tensions: International Baccalaureate in a Changing World. New York: Peter Lang.
69.
TarcP (2009b) What is the ‘International’ in the ‘International Baccalaureate’?Journal of Research in International Education8(3): 235–261.
70.
ThompsonJ (1998) Towards a model for international education. In: HaydenMThompsonJ (eds) International Education: Principles and Practice. London: Kogan Page, 276–290.
71.
VisserA (2010) International education in a national context: introducing the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme in Dutch public schools. Journal of Research in International Education9(2): 141–152.
72.
WaltersW (2007) A case study of implementing an IB MYP: teachers’ motivation and perceptions towards change. Unpublished EdD thesis, Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
