Lower Secondary

Years 7, 8 and 9

International Middle Years Curriculum

The International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC) at TradeWinds Academy is designed for students aged 11-14, offering a dynamic and engaging educational experience that emphasizes interconnectedness and relevance in learning. This curriculum prepares students for the next stages of their academic journey while fostering essential skills for success in a rapidly changing world. The combination of the British Curriculum and the IMYC ensures that students at TradeWinds Academy are not only prepared for whichever academic pathway they choose, but are also well-rounded, confident, compassionate members of a global community.

How It Works

Conceptual Learning

Each unit is built around a Big Idea, connecting various subjects to a central theme that resonates with students' personal experiences and global contexts. This approach helps students see the relevance of their studies to real-world issues. Our teaching team are experts at tailoring the curriculum to ensure that all learning is relevent to students - we understand the important of knowing WHY we are learning something.

Student-Centered Approach

The IMYC promotes a student-led learning environment, encouraging learners to take charge of their education. Through active participation, students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential for their future.

Holistic Development

The curriculum focuses on developing not just academic knowledge but also personal and international competencies. Students engage in projects that require collaboration, communication, and creativity, preparing them to be responsible global citizens.

IMYC topics cover:

Geography
History
Technology
Computing and Digital Communication
Music
Art and Design

As well as these International Primary Curriculum subject disciplines, IMYC students at TradeWinds also have regular lessons in swimming, golf, sport and fitness, the arts and Kiswahili.

By combining this comprehensive curriculum with the high academic expectations of the British Curriculum for reading, writing, mathematics and science, we provide a rich and varied learning experience that will provide students with the skills they need for whatever the future may hold for them.

Secondary Home

British Curriculum

The Teenage Brain

Leon, Year 8 Student

The IMYC, to me, is a wonderful teaching tool and standard. It has given me plenty of room to grow and flourish, offering me a chance to do just about anything in life. It has improved my oracy skills, persuasion capabilities, art technique, fitness, and much more, as well as informing me on real-world topics.

Having an interconnected curriculum gives students the scaffolding that they need to achieve a higher and deeper level of understanding. It gives them the belief that what they are actually learning will be useful in the future, and in turn, makes them listen, investigate, want to understand more, and ask questions.

Elena, Year 9 Student