How does the IB Work?

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Director, Mr Lock, manages and administers the academic programme of each student and works with Mr Brady and the Sixth Form teaching staff and tutors to ensure that the progress of each student is closely monitored. Mr Brady and the team of dedicated and experienced Sixth Form Tutors ensure that pastoral guidance is there throughout the two years, whilst Mr Halton and the form tutors prepare students for UCAS, Oxbridge and their future careers.


Our common aim is that every Sixth Form student achieves the very best of which they are capable over the course of the two year programme.

ibfrontpage

Diploma candidates choose their programme of six subjects to be studied over two years from the following:


Group 1 Language A1.

All students will study English Literature at either Standard or Higher Level, including selections from World Literature. In cases where the student's best language is not English there may be an opportunity to study works in their preferred language.


Group 2 Languages:


Either

Language B (second language)

which provides a foreign or classical language course for students with previous experience of learning the language.


Or

Language Ab initio

(second language) which is a foreign language course offered at Standard Level only. It is for students who have no previous or recent experience of learning the target language.


Group 3 Individuals and Societies:

History, Geography, Economics, Business and Management.


Group 4 Experimental Sciences:

Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Design Technology.


Group 5 Mathematics:

Mathematics (HL), Mathematics Standard (SL), Mathematical Studies (SL).


Group 6 Arts and Electives:

Visual Arts, Music, Theatre Arts or another subject from Groups 2, 3 or 4.


To be eligible for the award of the Diploma, candidates are required to offer ONE subject from EACH of the groups. At least three and not more than four of the six subjects are taken at the Higher Level (minimum 240 teaching hours), the others at Standard Level (minimum 150 teaching hours). Each subject is graded by external examiners on a scale of 1 (minimum) to 7 (maximum). The award of the Diploma requires a minimum total of 24 points and the absence of any disqualifying conditions.


The Diploma candidate must meet three additional requirements: satisfactory completion of the Theory of Knowledge course, submission of an Extended Essay, and compulsory participation in the extra-curricular CAS programme.


Theory of Knowledge (TOK).

This compulsory course is an attempt to examine critically the types, nature and limitations of different ways of knowing. It trains students to appreciate differing viewpoints and perspectives, and evaluate arguments and evidence more effectively. Students will participate in much discussion and debate in class. It develops critical thinking skills central to life within and beyond the curriculum.

In both years of the programme students must produce, in addition to regular preparation, formal essays in relation to the course, internally marked and externally moderated by the IB. Students must also prepare an oral presentation on a theme developed during the course. Thus, while there is no final exam, successful completion of TOK is required for the Diploma. Bonus points, which go towards the final Diploma score, are available for good work in the subject.


Extended Essay

The Extended Essay is defined by the IB as "an in-depth study of a limited topic within a subject". This 4000-word essay is meant to provide students with the opportunity to conduct independent research, at an introductory level, into a topic which they find particularly interesting and, in so doing, they will develop research and presentation skills.


The Extended Essay is completed during Year 13 and is developed via a series of set stages. Students choose or are allocated an Extended Essay Supervisor from staff qualified in the chosen area to guide and assist in the completion of the essay. The completed essay is externally marked; bonus points are available for good work done in this area.


Creativity-Action-Service (CAS)

CAS (Creativity-Action-Service) is an important, integral part of the Diploma Programme. At its most basic, CAS involves the completion of 150 hours of creative, active and service activities. More importantly, however, CAS aims to challenge and extend pupils by developing a spirit of discovery and self-reliance, and by encouraging individual skills and interests. CAS offers an experiential component to the Diploma Programme that will most often occur outside the walls of the classroom and will ultimately develop a spirit of initiative, innovation and independence, while recognizing the "shared humanity that binds all people together while respecting the variety and attitudes that make for the richness of life" (IB Mission Statement). The CAS programme also recognises the achievements of pupils in non-academic areas of the curriculum which have been undervalued in the more traditional pre-university courses.


All pupils will be expected to take the initiative in developing their own programme of activities to meet the CAS requirements. This will be done with the guidance of Miss McCaughey, the CAS Co-ordinator who will steer the pupils towards appropriate activities. Some of these will inevitably be activities organised within school and by members of staff, but we will be encouraging pupils to develop activities beyond the boundaries of the College in areas they may not have considered before. Assessment will be in the form of a CAS diary which is reflective in nature. This will be monitored at regular intervals throughout the two years and feedback on a pupil's progress will be given to parents via the normal reporting system.


Conditions for the award of the Diploma

The Diploma will be awarded to candidates whose total score, including bonus points, reaches 24 points and does not contain any of a number of failing conditions.

Excluding Conditions

The Diploma cannot be awarded, whatever the total score, to candidates who have

(a) received a grade 1 in any HL subject
(b) not submitted an Extended Essay
(c) not met the requirements of the TOK course.
(d) not completed satisfactory CAS.

Website created by Rippleffect