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International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Scots College is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School authorized to deliver the IB's Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and the senior-level IB Diploma Programme.
The Primary and Middle Years Programmes were introduced in the Prep School and Secondary School in 2008 and the IB Diploma was introduced in 2010 to Years 12 & 13 as an alternative qualification to NCEA.
The Primary Years Programme (PYP) runs from Year 1 to Year 6 and is being implemented across all year levels. The Middle Years Programme (MYP) runs from Years 7-10.
The IB Diploma is a two-year course available to students in Years 12 and 13 as an alternative to NCEA. Scots offers a dual pathway to students allowing them a choice between NCEA and IB.
Why did Scots College decide to introduce the IB Programmes into the curriculum?
"The answer is very clear when you consider the type of education Scots is offering. All the IB programmes focus on skills that our learners will need in the 21st century, the interdisciplinary approach makes learning more meaningful and the emphasis on environmental education and service encapsulates key ideals that we view as important”.
"The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally-minded people who, recognising their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world. I believe that the linking of this academic purpose with the spiritual base of the College will further strengthen the College’s commitment to its core purpose.”
Graeme Yule
Headmaster
The IB Mission Statement
The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.
These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
What is special about the IB Diploma?
You can't really compare IB and NCEA. Both have their own methods of teaching, both have good and bad points. There is a lot of work in the IB Programme, but one of the things I like most about IB is the way in which you are taught things. There is no "this is why you do it, now memorise," with IB, rather, everything is "this is why you do it, now explore." We also have more interaction with teachers because classes are smaller and more relaxed.
IB Diploma Student Michael Lin (2011)
My favourite class is Business and Management, a brand new subject to the school and me. I find it great fun and extremely useful as it is based on day to day occurences in the world. CAS (Creativity-Action-Service) has been good too, because it has given me an extra reason to do things that I usually was unsure about. For example I was recently involved in the school production and I can honestly say that it was one of the most enjoyable things I've ever done."
IB Diploma Student Jonty D'Arcy-Smith (2011)
The International Baccalaureate Learner Profile encourages students to strive to be:
| Inquirers: | They develop their natural curiosity. |
| Knowledgeable: | They explore concepts, ideas and issues of local and global significance. |
| Thinkers: | They exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively. |
| Communicators: | They understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively in more than one language. |
| Principled: | They act with integrity. |
| Open-minded: | They understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, and are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities. |
| Caring: | They show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. |
| Risk- takers: | They approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. |
| Balanced: | They understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance. |
| Reflective: | They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. |
The IB programmes build from the students’ current knowledge base. A key advantage is the integrated way in which the subjects are taught.
Read the IB Profile Learner Booklet (2MB) to learn more.
The IB Diploma Programme is represented by a hexagon: a rounded programme of six subjects from different faculties, with a core of EE, TOK and CAS
- Six subjects studied, three at higher level, three at standard level
- One subject from each group (group 6 may be replaced by an extra subjext in either group 3 or 4)
Extended Essay
One of the unique features of the IB Diploma is that all students write an Extended Essay, a small scale, yet ambitious, 4000-word academic research paper. Universities acknowledge the writing of an IB Extended Essay as a valuable academic exercise, through which the candidate learns about independent research and about writing an academic paper - skills that are necessary for a successful university study. In the Diploma Programme, students choose a favourite subject and topic for their Extended Essay and work for about half a year under the guidance of a supervisor. The Extended Essays are sent away for external assessment, and particularly good ones are rewarded bonus points which add to the weight of the final Diploma.
Related Links:
EE Student Handbook (234KB)
Academic Honesty (redirects to the IBO website)