The International Baccalaureate (IB) Programmes
A number of Globeducate schools are IB World Schools delivering one or more of the IB programmes.
What is the International Baccalaureate?
The International Baccalaureate is an internationally respected, broad education taught in more than 150 countries across the globe and 18 Globeducate schools. The IB Organisation´s mission is for its programmes to teach young people to “think critically and independently, and how to inquire with care and logic.” This is a journey that can begin at age 3 and take the learner all the way through to 19, developing the whole child, nurturing intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills. Globeducate offers each programme can be accessed independently of the earlier stages.
Primary Years Programme (PYP): Ages 3 to 11/12
Middle Years Programme (MYP): Ages 11/12 to 16
Diploma Programme (DP): Ages 16 to 18/19
What is the International Baccalaureate Diploma?
Our senior IB students follow the IB Diploma between the ages of 16 and 18/19. The programme is centred on applying critical-thinking skills to their experiences as they learn how to interpret the world around them on a local, national and global scale. Students’ academic, social, emotional and physical well-being form key components of study that follow six subjects and three core areas over two years. Internationally respected by the world´s top universities, students who complete the IB Diploma are well prepared with the skills and attitudes needed for success in higher education, and they are fully prepared to participate as global citizens.
The IB offers a holistic approach to education and upon completion, students receive grades between 1 and 7 for each of their six chosen subjects, with 7 being the highest. The Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay can collectively contribute another three points to a student´s overall score – and a minimum of 24 points is needed to be awarded the IB Diploma.
The IB Learner Profile
There are 10 attributes valued by IB World Schools. These, and similar, attributes can help individuals and groups to become responsible members of local, national and global communities:
- Inquirers
- Thinkers
- Communicators
- Risk-Takers
- Knowledgeable
- Principled
- Caring
- Open-Minded
- Balanced
- Reflective
IB subjects and structure
Group 1 – Studies in Language and Literature: These are usually taken in the student’s native language and can focus on literature alone or a combination of language and literature together.
Group 2 – Language Acquisition: This is a second language for the student. It is usually a modern foreign language but can also be Latin or Classical Greek.
Group 3 – Individuals and Societies: Subjects in this group relate to the humanities. They include business and management, economics, geography, global politics, history, philosophy, psychology, social and cultural anthropology, world religions and others.
Group 4 – Sciences: This includes a range of sciences such as biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, and design technology.
Group 5 – Mathematics: This group includes mathematical studies, mathematics, and further mathematics.
Group 6 – The Arts: These include music, theatre, dance, film, and Visual Arts. Alternatively, students can choose to study a second subject from one of the first five groups.
In addition to these six chosen subjects, students must also complete the following three core elements of the IB, designed to broaden their experience and skills:
Theory of Knowledge (ToK): ToK is important in the IB as it provides an opportunity for students to reflect on the nature of knowledge and how we can claim to know what we know. Questions students will examine include ‘what counts as evidence?’ and ‘how can theories be applied in the real world?’ From this study, they are taught to recognise the need to act responsibly in the world around them for their benefit and the benefit of others.
The Extended Essay: This is an in-depth 4,000-word study on a subject of the student’s choosing. Their essay can be an in-depth investigation into something relating to one of their six chosen subjects, or it can be an interdisciplinary approach combining themes from two IB disciplines.
CAS (Creativity, Action, Service): Throughout the Diploma programme, CAS involves students in a range of activities alongside their academic studies. This is not formally assessed, however students reflect on their CAS experiences as part of the DP, and provide evidence of achieving the seven learning outcomes. All students undertake a project which challenges them to: show initiative, demonstrate perseverance and develop skills such as collaboration, problem solving and decision making.