Middle School

Empowered & Engaged

Middle School is crucial in shaping the skills, values, beliefs and character required to successfully navigate the transition to Senior School and beyond. Our engaging Years 7–9 curriculum is designed to empower, enrich and transform students. Educational experiences provide skills for life, a love of learning and a strong academic foundation. Students learn ‘how’ to learn not just ‘what’ to learn and make practical and authentic connections between their studies and the real world through guided inquiry.

Our Approach to Teaching & Learning

The IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) prioritises “learning to learn”, with a curriculum designed to develop Approaches To Learning (ATL) skills that are transferable. Each unit targets specific skills, allowing students to practice and develop them toward achieving subject objectives and beyond.

Middle School emphasises holistic education, fostering students’ social and emotional growth. The curriculum engages students with real-world issues, using inquiry and problem-solving to create socially beneficial solutions. This academically rigorous program prepares students for a seamless transition into Senior School and the VCE program.

Explore our Integrated Learning Timetable

Learning in our Middle School

Caulfield Grammar School is authorised to deliver the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP). The MYP is a framework for how the disciplines and faculties work together to create a consistent language and experience for our students. It guides teaching and learning practices and delivers content specified by the Australian Curriculum underpinned by a strong focus on Literacy and Numeracy.

Learning Mentor

Each class in Years 7 and 8 is supported by a Learning Mentor. This second qualified teacher works with the student and the subject teacher to ensure the most effective learning is taking place. The Mentor accompanies the students throughout the range of learning experiences across the year.

IB MYP Subject Groups

The IB Middle Years programme (MYP) offers eight subject groups, providing a balanced education that encourages students to engage with big ideas rather than memorising facts. In MYP, students connect subject disciplines to real-world contexts, exploring global perspectives to foster cultural understanding, empathy and an appreciation of shared human experiences.

The Arts

During their time in Middle School, students undertake compulsory studies in Music, Visual Arts and Performing Arts. They develop skills through creating, performing and presenting in ways that engage and convey feelings, experiences and ideas.

Design

Students are given the opportunity to apply the design cycle as a way of structuring their inquiries. Students apply practical and creative thinking skills to solve design problems and consider their responsibilities when making design decisions and taking action. Students focus on product and digital design as well as sustainability while exploring the role of design in both historical and contemporary contexts.

Individuals & Societies

Encourages learners to respect and understand the world around them and equips them with the necessary skills to inquire into historical contemporary geographical, political, social, economic, religious, technological and cultural factors that have an impact on different societies and environments.

Language Acquisition

All students undertake a compulsory language – French, Chinese or German – from Years 7 to 9. Language is central to the development of critical thinking, which is essential for cultivating intercultural understanding. It is also integral to exploring personal development and cultural identity.

Language & Literature (English)

Enables students to interact with a range of texts that generate insight into moral, social, economic, political, cultural and environmental domains. Students develop their skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing and presenting. They continually grow in their abilities to form opinions, make decisions and reason ethically.

Mathematics

Encompasses number, algebra, geometry and trigonometry statistics and probability. Students learn how to represent information to explore and model situations and to find solutions to familiar and unfamiliar problems.

Physical & Health Education

Empowers students to understand and appreciate the value of being physically active and to develop the motivation for making healthy life choices. Physical and Health Education focuses on learning about and learning through physical activity.

Sciences

Students explore Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Earth Sciences and are encouraged to investigate issues through research, observation and experimentation, working independently and collaboratively. This fosters critical and creative thinking about research and design as well as the identification of assumptions and alternative explanations.

IB Middle Years Programme

In addition to the IB Learner Profile and the Approaches to Learning (ATL), the following are also at the core of the MYP:

Global Contexts

Global Contexts directs learning towards independent and shared inquiry into our common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet. Teachers use global contexts to guide exploration in every unit of study.

Service & Action

Engaging in developing an understanding of self and our responsibilities as a member of a community by taking action to address identified needs in the community.

Year 9 Community Project

Encourages students to find a cause that they are passionate about and take action within the broader community. From care packs for cancer patients and stationery drives for ‘Backpacks 4 Vic Kids’, this program develops international mindedness and a desire to make a difference in the world.

Year 9 Café Business Program

This two-week program immerses students in real-world business by running a café at our Wheelers Hill and Caulfield campuses, creating menus, managing finances, practising food handling and hygiene skills, and serving the community.

Co-Curricular Experiences

Our co-curricular programs and experiences inspire and engage all Middle Years students to find their pathway through exploration of Sport, The Arts, cultural immersion and experiential learning. No matter your child’s passions and strengths, they will be supported to find success, joy and fulfilment at school.