Curriculum

The core of the Middle Years curriculum at Loreto is the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program.

Essentially the IB Middle Years Program is designed for students aged 11 to 16 and provides a framework of academic challenge that encourages students to embrace and understand the connections between traditional subjects and the real world, and become critical and reflective thinkers. The program emphasises international-mindedness in students.

The program consists of eight subject groups integrated through five Areas of Interaction that provide a framework for learning within and across the subjects. Assessment is criterion referenced, so students around the world are measured against pre-specified criteria for each subject group.

The IB Learner Profile emphasises the development of the whole student - physical, intellectual, emotional and ethical. The Learner Profile is a list of aspirational qualities that epitomise effective learners.

In particular, Communication and Reflection are significant features of the program and support the students to critically evaluate their learning and analyse how they learn best and where they can improve.

In the final year of the program, students engage in a Personal Project, which allows them to demonstrate the understandings and skills they have developed throughout the program.

The curriculum is based on these eight areas:

• Language A
• Language B
• Science
• Mathematics
• Humanities
• Technology
• Art
• Physical Education

The ninth area of learning is Religious Education.