IBO Middle Year Program Authorization Visit

17^th and 18^th June, the date finally had arrived. Two Authorization team members of the International Baccalaureate Organisation had found their way from Munich, Germany and The Hague, The Netherlands to the Heart of Europe, Brussels. The MYP Regional Manager of Africa, Europe and Middle East, Mrs. Luz Maria Gutiérrez, who functioned as an observer during the Authorization process, joined Mr. David Pritchard and Ms. Marian Cunnane.

These two days in June became rather intense, but very constructive. Amongst many other aspects, a wide variety of components of our Middle School organization, the curriculum, the assessment criteria, the communication channels, and the information transmission were examined and held accountable against a substantial amount of supportive qualitative and quantitative documentation.

The administration as well as the coordinator, the home teachers and the individual subject teachers were consulted during half an hour interviews along a SWOT-analysis model, being able to express the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and possible threats. Whilst the administration focused more on the mission, vision and objectives of the IBO being in line with those of the International Montessori Middle Year Program, the individual subject teachers concentrated on the tools developed by them and the Middle School team as a whole. In particular attention was dedicated to the assessment tools and the capability of the teachers to apply these to their daily lessons, planning and individual approach. 

Also the student and parent body were to a fairly large degree involved in the Authorization procedure. Students familiarized the team members with the different facilities in Rotselaerlaan and ‘Savoorke’, introduced the staff members and their respective lessons, interactions and role in the students’ academic and personal development, explained their involvement in the development of the Middle Year Program and they concluded with an extensive discussion about their understanding of the mission and vision of the IBO and the practical implementations these had for their day to day work at the Middle School. The team members were impressed by the conscious involvement of the students, and the way they were able to express their thoughts and understanding.

Overall the response of the Authorization team, after two days of almost non-stop meetings and visits, was positive, resulting in a series of commendations and recommendations. By the end of August based on the report coming from the Swiss headquarters, we will know if we will join the five other schools in Belgium currently offering the IBO program, being ISB, St. Johns, BSB, The Scandinavian School, and the International School of Antwerp. These schools take care of the final two years of the program, whilst we could be the first school in Belgium taking care of the Middle Year Program.

I hope it is for you as exciting as it is for us.