International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

Source Material IBO Website, IB Handbook, Kristin School Auckland

and a range of other relevant readings.

• Founded in Geneva, Switzerland in the late 1960’s in response to the demand for a high quality education for internationally mobile students and since has developed a reputation for providing high quality curriculum and assessment the world over

• Non profit organisation, internationally recognised in the field of high quality education incorporating leading edge pedagogy (teaching and learning)

• Programmes offered in 3,576 schools in 145 countries with over a million students.

International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO)

• There are over 155 schools offering the IB Diploma in Australia and it is growing

• Twelve schools in New Zealand offer IB

• Mostly offered alongside the National curriculum

• 50% of schools offering IB globally are state schools

• The International Baccalaureate Organization aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultura understanding and respect.

• The programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

Mission Statement

The IBO offers three programmes:

• The Primary Years Programme (PYP)

• The Middle Years Programme (MYP)

• The Diploma Programme (DP) (offered at St Peter’s)

Programmes Offered

• The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is a challenging two‐year curriculum aimed at Yr 12 and 13 students

• It leads to a holistic qualification that is widely recognized and valued by students, parents, schools, the world’s leading universities and workplaces.

Students learn more than a collection of facts.

The diploma programme prepares students for university and encourages them to:

• ask challenging questions

• learn how to learn

• develop a strong sense of their own identity and culture

• develop the ability to communicate with and understand people from other countries and cultures.

The Curriculum Framework

www.ibo.org

• Six academic areas surround the heart of the programme

• The extended essay (EE), creativity, action and service (CAS) and the theory of knowledge (TOK) are requirements that form the core of the programme

Over the course of the two‐year programme, students:

• study six subjects, one chosen from each of the six subject groups

• complete an extended essay (4000 words)

• follow a theory of knowledge course (TOK)

• participate in creativity, action, service (CAS)

• three of the six subjects are studied at higher level (HL)

• the remaining three subjects are studied at standard level

All students will complete NCEA Level one (IGCSE Mathematics pathway will continue)

• Pre-requisites will be in place for entry to IB (plus interview with key staff including IB coordinator, Deans and Careers personnel)

• IB is most suitable for those who plan to go on to tertiary study and are average to above average students with a sound work and business

ethic and well developed time management skills

How does IB work at St Peter’s School

• NCEA is a pathway that many will still choose – students who do not wish to take a language

– students who for whatever reason will find organisation and time management a challenge

– those who want a wider choice of subjects e.g. tourism, food and fabrics

– those who prefer to earn credits as they study

• Standard level and Higher level IB courses are run in the same class

• Students select their High Level courses during the first year

• IB classes will run separately to NCEA classes (except language, art and music)

Choice of Pathways

NCEA Level 1

NCEA Level 2

NCEA Level 3

NZ Scholarship

Year 13 IB Diploma

Year 12 IB Diploma

The following subjects could be offered: • Group 1: English • Group 2: French, Spanish (beginners course),

Japanese • Group 3: Geography, History, Economics,

Business and Managment • Group 4: Chemistry, Biology, Physics • Group 5: Mathematics at various levels (high

level, standard level and Mathematical Studies) • Group 6: Music, Visual Arts, Film Studies, Dance

Subjects

Staff who are involved in teaching IB must attend professional development courses run by the International Baccalaureate Organisation as part of the extensive authorisation process.

This commitment to teacher professional development is viewed as pivotal and ongoing.

• Assessment is criterion based (no norm referencing, no grade inflation)

• Each subject is of equal value

• Each subject is graded using a 1‐7 scale

• Assessment is both internal (moderated/checked externally) and external by examinations in November of the second year

Assessment

• Three points are awarded for the Extended Essay and the Theory of Knowledge course (these are compulsory parts of the Diploma programme)

• Maximum score 45 points

• University entrance is 24 points or higher for some specialised courses. Grades over 40 may allow students to enter university in Year 2

• If students do not reach 24 they will receive certificates for the subjects in which they gained a grade of 4 or more.

Several personal attributes are recommended;

• Self motivated

• Organised

• Demonstrates initiative

• Average or above academic ability

• Enjoys a challenge

• Enjoys working towards a significant goal

• Perseverance

Is the IB Diploma for my child?

• The IB Diploma is nationally and internationally recognised as academically challenging and is held is high regard by students, parents, teachers and leading educationalists

• Pedagogy used in the teaching programmes is well recognised and at the forefront of teaching and learning

• Research indicates where IB is offered in a school alongside the national curriculum all students benefit

Concluding Points

• Students and staff will benefit from the superb teacher professional development

• IB is a philosophy as much as it is a curriculum and a qualification… it is a natural development of our current values and the focus on becoming a Thinking School

• IB reflects the increasingly global perspective

• IB offers a choice and will cater for the increasingly diverse range of students at St Peter’s School