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Grammar School & Sixth Form Centre to introduce IB

The Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre is planning to introduce the International Baccalaureate qualification to the Island from September 2012. The globally recognised IB Diploma Programme will be available in addition to the full range of A Levels currently offered at the Sixth Form Centre.

The IB Diploma Programme is designed as an academically challenging and balanced programme of education with final examinations that prepares students, normally aged 16 to 19, for success at university and life beyond. The programme is taught over two years and has gained recognition and respect from the world's leading universities.

The International Baccalaureate states that one of the programme's aims is to develop inquiring, knowledgeable young people who help create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

'The philosophy of the IB organisation and that of the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre are well aligned. We seek to guide and nurture the individual development of all our students and to enable them to pursue programmes of study which suit their particular talents, needs and aspirations. The introduction of the IB Diploma programme provides a different approach to post 16 qualifications available on the island, which is broad and enables students to study a wide range of subjects'. said Tina Watson, Headteacher Designate

'There are compelling reasons why students within the Bailiwick of Guernsey may choose to take this opportunity. They will learn to be articulate communicators, to be numerate and scientifically able as well as to have an appreciation of other cultures. The skills they develop throughout the course will lead them to be extremely versatile and desirable to future employers and university admission tutors. The school has been preparing for this initiative for a number of years and the staff have undertaken extensive professional development in order to prepare fully for the introduction of the course next year. We are very excited to be able to offer the IB alongside the extensive A level provision and are extremely proud of the achievements of our A level students, and we will expect similar results from the IB in 2014'.

The IB diploma is more than a package of different academic subjects, and the whole is greater than the sum of its individual parts, with the core of the IB Diploma sitting at the heart of every student's programme of study. These three additional requirements aim to broaden their educational experience and challenge them to apply their knowledge and understanding. These are:

  • The extended essay is an in-depth study that offers the opportunity to investigate a topic of special interest, and promotes high-level research and writing skills, intellectual discovery and creativity. This should help students develop many of the skills they will require when going on to higher education.
  • Theory of knowledge (TOK) asks the key question "How do you know?" This critical thinking involves asking good questions, using language with care and precision, supporting ideas with evidence, arguing coherently, and making sound judgements. The TOK course will support the rest of your learning by helping you to reflect on the nature of the other subjects you are studying.
  • Creativity, action, service (CAS) involves you in a range of activities alongside your academic studies. The activities that students choose to take part in will be a combination of individual challenges and those developing the key skills of team work. These activities will give students multiple opportunities to work within the local community on Guernsey as well as projects further a field.

The Grammar School & Sixth Form Centre is holding an information evening for current Year 11 students and their parents on Tuesday November 22nd to provide further details about the IB Diploma Programme. This event will allow students and parents to discover more about the curriculum content on offer from September 2012, meet the staff, and gain more information about the IB Diploma experience from some current IB students.

"I am delighted that from next September students from across the Bailiwick will have the option to study this highly-regarded, broad, cohesive and internationally-accredited programme as an alternative to the well-established array of A Levels we currently offer" said Kieran James, who will succeed Mrs Watson as Director of Sixth Form Studies in January.

"Having taught both the IB and A Levels I believe each has something to offer students in the Sixth Form. We want to make sure all Year 11 students and their parents have enough information and guidance about the options available to make the right decision for their individual needs".

Further Information

The International Baccalaureate (IB) was founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1968 as a non-profit educational foundation.

A group of talented, forward-thinking teachers at the International School of Geneva, with assistance from several other international schools, created the IB Diploma Programme. What started life as a single programme for internationally mobile students preparing for university, has today grown into three programmes for students aged 3 to 19.

The programme in the early days consisted of a common pre-university curriculum and a common set of external examinations for students in schools throughout the world, seeking to provide students with a truly international education. Although the first IB schools were predominantly private international schools, they included a very small number of private national institutions and schools belonging to state education departments. This has changed over the years and today over half of all IB World Schools (authorised to offer one or more of our programmes) are state schools.

IB Diploma students now number more than 750,000 in 132 countries around the world.

Students take written examinations at the end of the programme, which are marked by external IB examiners. Students also complete assessment tasks in school which are either marked by teachers and then moderated by external moderators or sent directly to external examiners.

Further information is available at www.ibo.org