Private School News

Bromsgrove School introduces IB: a major alternative to A levels

This month Bromsgrove School began teaching the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) to a group of 38 students from the UK and abroad. Once the School had passed a rigorous authorisation process, some 30 staff underwent training in locations as varied as Birmingham and Athens. The Programme was then launched with induction and team building sessions on September 7th.

The Diploma Programme differs from A levels in that students study six subjects, three at standard level and three at higher level, before sitting examinations at the end of the two year course. The subjects are balanced so that they must include English, Mathematics, a science, a modern language and a humanity with the option to study Art or Music or second science, modern language or further humanity. The programme fits well with Bromsgrove’s international reputation as being a top all-round school because Diploma Programme students must also undertake a minimum of 150 hours of creativity, action and service to the community as well as studying for a ‘Theory of Knowledge’ component. Students must also undertake personal research in preparation for producing a 4000 word dissertation or ‘Extended Essay’.

Bromsgrove’s Director of IBDP, Mike Bowen-Jones, says, “I am thrilled by the manner in which the students approached their induction and team building and by how they tackled even the most off the wall tasks without batting an eyelid.” A buoyant director said that “good organizational skills are as important as intellectual curiosity, and the start that this cohort has made augurs well for the success of the IBDP at Bromsgrove. I am sure that numbers will grow significantly as more and more people recognise the immense strength of this course and its international reputation’.”

Some of the reasons for choosing to study the IBDP given by students were….

“I am studying IB, because I think it is the best education you can possible get. Also I really like the fact that it is not an “exam factory” like the A levels because you have got Community, Action and Service; Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay, which educates you to be an adult.”
Alexander-Simon Engel, from Cologne, Germany

“There are various things that IB might stand for; these could include Inappropriate Behaviour and Intense Business. Thankfully with this course there is none of the former and huge amounts of the latter. Of course, though, Business is not all work and no play: it could be said that it is Creativity, Action and Service as well as work. I love it.”
Rupert Harris from Worcestershire, UK

“This course offers me the opportunity to continue with all of the subjects which I enjoy and has the bonus of exam results being published nearly two months before those of A levels”
Katie Nixon from Herefordshire, UK

“I think IB gives you more opportunities for future success and will educate you better. Studying IB makes you more organised because you have to use your time more efficiently to get everything done to schedule.”
Kate Voytenko from Kiev, Ukraine.

“I personally chose to study the IB because I am not yet ready to limit my learning to 4 specific areas and would like to have a greater knowledge of the world as a whole by learning alongside other people from all the different corners of the earth.”
Hannah Rowsell from Worcestershire, UK

“I chose the IB course not only to get wilder range of knowledge and have the chance to start learning a new modern language, but to be different, to prove that I can do it better and harder than others, to show my individuality and creativity, which IB enables you to do more than A level.”
Ekaterina Rtishcheva from Ulyanovsk, Russia

I took the IB because in my opinion there is no better chance to get this well prepared for your time and work at university. No other programme is that balanced and based on keeping all aspects of life together ( academics, sports, creativity, social contacts etc)-
Jana Nester from Schwabach near Nuremberg, Germany

“IB is very demanding as it is rewarding. The long term benefits of doing IB are a broader view and a better understanding of the world we live in.”
Aldiyar Nugmanov from Almaty, Kazakhstan

“I choose the IB course because with IB you have a wider range of possibilities than with any other course.”
Niklas Koffka, Hamburg, Germany