Hello,

I am a teacher in a mixed comprehensive secondary school. We have introduced the IMYC program of study in year 7 and will roll it out to year 8 next year. This is how the IMYC defines itself on its website:

The IMYC helps your students to make meaning of their learning by:

Linking all subject learning to a conceptual theme
Responding to the specific developmental needs of 11-14 year olds
Working towards understanding through a personal and global perspective

How effective is that approach in helping students develop learning skills? It is an “off the peg” curriculum. Is it better to stick to recommendations made by the providers in terms of learning activities or is it better to amend and customise? If we customise, are we at risk of losing the essence of the course, thereby negating any benefits? If we don’t customise, are we reducing teachers’ ability to use their experience to teach thereby under-utilising the staff’s pool of knowledge? Which approach would you recommend?
Thank you