insideKENT Magazine Issue 70 - January 2018 | Page 121

EDUCATION
THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
DIPLOMA PROGRAMME
2018 MARKS THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEVENOAKS SCHOOL INTRODUCING THE
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA. IT STEADILY BECAME THE
QUALIFICATION OF CHOICE BY STUDENTS AND PARENTS, AND REPLACED A-LEVELS
COMPLETELY NEARLY TWENTY YEARS AGO.
Designed to promote a global perspective,
understanding and communication, the
International Baccalaureate Diploma
Programme’s (IBDP’s) values and identity have
remained consistent, and now, more than
ever, Sevenoaks believes it is the best
education for the modern world. The
programme encourages students to value
conflict resolution, to respect cultural heritage
and the environment and to develop an
attitude of responsibility to the wider
community.
Worldwide, the IB Diploma is now taken by
nearly 142,000 students in over 2,400 schools.
Students take six subjects, including their
native language and one other, mathematics,
and at least one science and one humanity.
They take a theory of knowledge course
developing critical thinking and reasoning
skills, and they follow a creativity, action and
service programme in sport, the arts and
voluntary work.
A key feature of the IBDP is the Extended
Essay, an independent, 4,000-word project
on a subject chosen by the student, with a
tutorial-style model of supervision. It fosters
independent learning and deep subject
knowledge; it is a superb preparation for
undergraduate essays.
The breadth of the Diploma programme
encourages an interdisciplinary style of
learning. Students develop expert knowledge
in the topics that most interest them, but are
also encouraged to look beyond the traditional
boundaries between academic disciplines,
think critically across the curriculum and to
appreciate and analyse multiple perspectives.
This strength of breadth and depth is one of
the reasons why IB students are very effectively
prepared for university and for the future
workplace.
Universities really like the IB; by maintaining
its standards, free from state interference, the
IB has succeeded in achieving a consistency
of assessment unparalleled elsewhere. Its 45-
point scale enables universities to make more
nuanced offers to candidates than are possible
under other schemes. IB students start their
undergraduate careers with numeracy, literacy
and language competency, a broad
understanding of a range of disciplines, and
strong employability skills such as teamwork
and problem solving. They are experienced
at managing a varied workload and can
question, reflect and think critically.
As a consequence, the offer and acceptance
rates for IB Diploma students are notably
higher than those for other post-16
qualifications, and in the US, it is a sought-
after passport to top universities.
Sevenoaks has been a flagship school for the
IB for many years. The IB provides what
parents, universities and employers want –
access to top universities, very impressive
students and well-rounded, resourceful
employees – but just as importantly, it
encourages inquiry, reflection and delight in
learning. Students leave with a modern and
international worldview and with a desire to
shape and to improve the world.
“We found our students were
not being stretched by A-levels.
They were coasting, and the IB
was the better option
educationally. It has been a
masterstroke for us.”
Arabella Stuart,
Director of Admissions, Sevenoaks School
www.sevenoaksschool.org
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