International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate Diploma
Programme (IB) was created in 1968. Its aim is to
provide 16-19 year old students with an enriching breadth of
education that allows them to gain a rigorous qualification that
possesses the ultimate level of portability in a world where
national boundaries are increasingly becoming less
significant. IB opens up endless possibilities for
students to study at universities around the
world. Equally, the qualification is
highly-valued by UK universities - IB
students do not need to take A Levels for university
entry.
The objective of the IB Organisation is therefore to equip
students with the ability to not only be international in their
outlook, but also develop independent learning and life skills that
will enable them to acquire an all round educational
benefit.
IB at Plymouth College
runs alongside A Levels. Diploma programme students have
their own lessons, but all other elements of Sixth Form life such
as the tutor group system, assemblies, games and extra-curricular
activities are fully integrated. The primary differences between an
A level and an International Baccalaureate course of study come in
the number of subjects studied and how the two years of the Sixth
Form are structured. Unlike A levels there are no modular
examinations spread throughout the two years of study. Instead IB
is assessed through a combination of coursework and a set of final
examinations which take place in May of the Upper Sixth year. Thus,
the summer term in the Lower Sixth will be a full teaching term for
IB students with no study leave.
Since IB is committed to providing students
with true breadth of study, a student has to choose six subjects
from the "outer hexagon" as well completing a satisfactory course
of study in the elements which make up the "inner hexagon" or core
part of the qualification. The core of IB has three
elements Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and Creativity,
Action, Service. These areas very much drive the IB ethos for
encouraging an understanding of other cultural perspectives,
developing independent learning and life skills and fostering
students' awareness and appreciation of life outside the academic
arena. More details about the
subjects available can be found in the curriculum
section.
Each student's performance is measured against well
defined historical measures of performance which are consistent
from one examination year to the next. Therefore grades are awarded
on ability and achievement rather than on the basis of the need to
award a certain percentage of students a particular grade. As a
result, IB Diploma grades are immune from the annual "grade
inflation" debate that takes place every August in certain sections
of the media.
Click here
for 2011 IB results
Click here
for IB Gambia trip
Click
here for IB Exhibition Awards