Connections & good practice at our MYP conference

The MYP conference this year centred on "Unlocking Potential: Celebrating Teaching & Learning in the MYP." Hosted graciously by Dartford Grammar School, the event was opened by Richard Markham and Dianne Blackburn, who reflected on the development of MYP programmes in the UK. The conference attendance was double that of the previous year, showcasing the rapid growth of the MYP in the UK. It was a privilege to welcome guest presenters from our community and virtual presenters from around the world, including a presenter from Australia who shared his experiences and strategies for authentically enabling inquiry in the MYP.

The programme began with a presentation by Ian Grieve, MYP Coordinator, who reflected on the development of inquiry-based learning over the past 20 years at DGS. His insights into the impact of inquiry throughout the programme inspired new ideas and opportunities for strategy development. We were then joined by Nat Erbes, who provided the latest information about the project "Enhancing the MYP." This guidance generated excitement as colleagues considered the impact of developments such as flexibility in concept choice.

Our colleagues from Southbank generously shared their practices, focusing on the MYP core and exploring the challenges and successes they had experienced. Daniel Sturdy from Woodhouse joined us to discuss the school's approach to the inclusive nature of the MYP.

The final breakout session offered participants a choice of two speakers: "Making the Approaches to Learning Explicit in the Classroom" and "Authentic Inquiry Practice in MYP Science for Non-Scientists." Both sessions were excellent, with educators generously sharing practices from their own school contexts and answering questions to support participants' development in their own schools.

Finally, we were joined by IB World School Managers Guillermo Duff and Proserpina Dhlamini-Fisher, who provided excellent ideas for creating a successful PDP, section by section.

The event was a resounding success, we already have schools keen to host next year’s event and presenters lining up to showcase their practice!

Dianne Blackburn, MYP Community Lead, IBSCA