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An education on how students learn and who they can become
The IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) at Marymount is much more than a curriculum. Designed for students aged 11–16, it supports them through five important years of growing independence, discovering their interests and developing a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Rather than learning subjects in isolation, students are encouraged to make connections between ideas, disciplines and real-world contexts.
Along the way, students develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to become independent thinkers, confident communicators and compassionate global citizens, preparing them to thrive in the IB Diploma Programme and beyond.
The journey culminates in the MYP Personal Project, where each student brings together her learning, interests and skills in an independent project of her own choosing, celebrated at our annual Personal Project Exhibition.
Why the Middle Years Programme
Knowledge matters – but what students are able to do with knowledge matters too. The Middle Years Programme encourages students to understand ideas deeply, apply their learning in new situations and recognise how their knowledge can have an impact beyond the classroom.
How is the Middle Years Programme different from GCSEs?
Marymount International School London values an education that combines academic rigour with breadth, international-mindedness and the deliberate development of skills. The Middle Years Programme provides a framework in which students can deepen their knowledge while continuing to think across disciplines, explore different perspectives and grow as independent learners.
Personal Project Exhibition
The Personal Project Exhibition at Marymount is a wonderful celebration of creativity, independence and learning. It gives students the opportunity to showcase projects inspired by their own interests and passions, while demonstrating the research, planning and reflection that went into bringing their ideas to life.
The exhibition highlights not only the final outcomes, but also the perseverance, curiosity and personal growth developed throughout the process. It is a wonderful moment for the Marymount community to come together and recognise students’ achievements while celebrating the diverse talents and ideas of our learners.
FAQs
Students are assessed internally by their teachers using clear, internationally consistent IB criteria. Each subject includes four assessment areas (such as knowledge, skills, reflection and communication), and students receive a score from 1 to 8 for each. These scores are combined and converted into a final subject grade out of 7, with 7 being the highest.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 7 | Frequently innovative, comprehensive understanding and expert thinking |
| 6 | High-quality and occasionally innovative work; often independent |
| 5 | Generally high quality: secure understanding and some sophistication |
| 4 | Good quality; basic understanding and thinking, flexible with support |
| 3 | Acceptable quality, some understanding and emerging critical thinking |
| 2 | Limited quality with major gaps in understanding and skill use |
| 1 | Very limited quality and understanding lacks critical thinking |
In the final year of the MYP, students complete a Personal Project- a significant, student-led research and creation task. This project demonstrates initiative, academic curiosity and the ability to manage a long-term assignment – qualities that align closely with university expectations and independent study.
Universities are only likely to look at MYP grades for subjects such as English, Maths and Science for certain degrees such as law or medicine when they will typically ask for “GCSE or equivalent passes”
While universities do not use MYP grades in admissions decisions, they highly value the skills, mindset and academic maturity that the MYP develops in students.
The MYP helps students grow into independent, globally aware learners by focusing on
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Critical thinking and analysis
- Independent research and inquiry
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Time management and organisation
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Communication and reflection
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Interdisciplinary understanding
These skills are exactly what top universities are looking for in successful applicants.
