EDUCATION
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
THE IB AT SEVENOAKS SCHOOL
WHAT IS THE IB ?
Since its inception in the 1960s , the International Baccalaureate ( IB ) has rapidly established itself as the gold standard of world education .
The IB is not just an exam board , however ; it embodies a philosophy of education based on a few basic principles :
• students should be both literate and numerate , scientifically adept as well as linguistically able , and not abandon key subjects at the age of 16 ;
• education is about more than passing exams ; it involves promoting creativity in the Arts , well-being through sport , and compassion through service in the community ;
• schools have a responsibility for advancing a clear set of values , including internationalmindedness , integrity and honesty , and tolerance for others .
WHAT MAKES THE IB DISTINCTIVE ?
The principles above might seem inarguable , yet it remains a sad fact that in the UK – as opposed to the US and Europe , indeed most of the world – a false divide exists and is perpetuated between the arts and sciences ; only in the UK are students effectively encouraged not to study either their native language or Maths beyond the age of 16 . Young people ' s brains are incredibly elastic and are capable of pursuing a range of subjects . For those with curiosity , sciences and languages should be complementary , not contradictory areas of study .
Of course , students need to play to their strengths , and the IB allows them to choose three subjects at Higher Level and three at Standard Level , but the principle of breadth as well as depth remains . In addition , pupils are encouraged to think critically through a Theory of Knowledge course , and to learn independently by completing an extended essay on a subject of their choice .
WHAT ABOUT UNIVERSITIES AND THE IB ?
IB students who complete the diploma are genuinely well-rounded people , confident and outward looking . This is because , through the IB , schools spend time developing the emotional intelligence of pupils as well as their academic abilities . All UK and US universities recognise the IB and value the balanced education students receive . Indeed , a leading Admissions Tutor at Cambridge is on record acknowledging that , given a choice between two marginal candidates , he would rather take a student who has studied the IB .
At Sevenoaks , over 90 % of our leavers gain places at their first choice university . It is a fact that IB students secure more first-class honours degrees , are twice as likely to study medicine , are more likely to be employed in graduate level jobs and , as confirmed by the Higher Education Statistics Agency in 2011 , enjoy higher salaries than their peers .
WHY CHOOSE THE IB ?
The IB might not be the easiest qualification available , but we are convinced that it is the best one and the right one . The coherence and balance of the curriculum , the flexibility of choice it offers , together with its emphasis on independent learning , ensure that students are equipped with a set of skills to compete in an increasingly globalised economy . In short , the IB gives today ’ s young people the best possible chance to succeed at university and in the world of work .
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