Looking Ahead: Sharing Our IB Journey with Parents

Last week, Optimist International School welcomed parents to a dedicated online workshop about one of the most important developments for next school year: our transition into the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework as we grow into Optimist International Academy.

The session gave families a practical overview of what this means for their children — not only in terms of how learning will look in Primary and Secondary, but also where this educational pathway can lead in the future when it comes to universities in the Netherlands and abroad.

For many parents, one of the most valuable parts of the evening was seeing the full picture: OIA is not simply introducing a new curriculum, but building one connected international learning journey from Primary into Secondary, with clear pathways toward higher education in the Netherlands and abroad.

A short video impression of the workshop will be shared with families via Parro shortly.

A clear picture of learning in practice

During the workshop, parents were introduced to how the IB works in daily school life.

In Primary, children will learn through the Primary Years Programme (PYP), where inquiry, concept-based learning and student agency are central. Learning connects subjects in meaningful ways, helping children explore real-world questions while developing curiosity, reflection and independence.

In Secondary, students continue this journey through the Middle Years Programme (MYP),
where subject learning becomes more structured, while keeping the same inquiry-driven philosophy. Students are encouraged to think critically, make interdisciplinary connections, and apply learning in authentic contexts. 

The IB Primary Years Programme

 

The IB MYP Programme

 

One continuous journey

A key message shared in the workshop was continuity.

At OIA, PYP and MYP are designed as one coherent pathway, not separate systems. Students build year by year on the same learning habits, language and mindset. This creates a smoother transition into Secondary and prepares them gradually for future academic choices.

That continuity matters even more because OIA Primary and OIA Secondary will work closely together — educationally, organisationally, and physically — with both campuses located just a stone’s throw from each other in Hoofddorp.

Strong international pathways after IB in the Netherlands and abroad

An especially important topic for families was what comes after MYP and beyond.

The workshop highlighted that the IB opens broad doors for students:

• Dutch universities

• English-taught university bachelor programmes in the Netherlands

• Universities of Applied Sciences (HBO)

• International universities worldwide

As explained during the presentation, there are currently more than 400 English-taught bachelor programmes in the Netherlands alone, across both research universities and HBO institutions. IB students are widely recognised for being well prepared for higher education because of their strength in research, critical thinking, time management and independent learning.

After MYP, students may continue into:

• the IB Diploma Programme (DP),

• the IB Career-related Programme (CP),

• or other suitable pathways such as MBO routes leading into HBO.

This flexibility is one of the strengths of the IB framework: it supports different talents, ambitions and futures.

Building on who we already are

The transition to IB is not a break from OIS identity — it is a natural next step.

Our current school vision already places strong emphasis on inquiry, reflection, international mindedness and developing the whole child. The IB strengthens these values by making them more explicit, more connected, and more consistent across the full age range from 4 to 18.

As shared in the workshop, IPC has given OIS a strong thematic foundation over the years. The IB now allows us to deepen that approach with a clearer focus on student agency, transferable skills, and one continuous educational framework across Primary and Secondary.

Continuing the conversation

For families who could not attend the session — or would like to revisit what was shared — the new Learning pages on the OIA website now offer a fuller picture of how learning is taking shape across both Primary and Secondary.

We warmly invite parents to explore these pages and continue discovering what this exciting next chapter means for their child.

Read more on the OIA website:
https://optimist-international-academy.nl/learning/