Private School News

A truly ‘International’ Baccalaureate flourishes at RYDAL PENRHOS SCHOOL

Rydal Penrhos school based in Colwyn Bay continues to move forward with an education that fits the modern world. This was part of the reason that they started running the International Baccalaureate for sixth formers back in 2004 alongside it’s existing A level programme. The IB has since this time established as a very successful, and truly ‘International’ course with students studying it who have English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish as their first language.

When students enter the sixth form in Rydal Penrhos School they have the unique option of studying for A levels or of studying for the IB diploma and the split is about half and half. This choice means that students can tailor their academic education to fit their university and career choices for the future.

Students studying the IB Diploma must take six subjects (3 at Higher and 3 at Standard Level) plus they write a 4,000 word extended essay, complete a course in theory of knowledge, and complete a number of creativity, action and service projects. The six subjects must include a study of their own language, a foreign language, mathematics, a science, a humanity and their sixth subject can be another language, science, humanity or it can be art, music or drama. In this way students study a balanced curriculum but have the opportunity to specialize.

Chris Jelfs, from the Anglesey area and who is in upper sixth at present says “ My sister had done IB, and had successfully achieved a very high score and continued on to do Languages at Durham, this influenced me when I came to decide between A levels and IB.” Chris who is a talented musician was able to keep doing his music as one of his six subjects at a higher level, which was important to him also.

Jenny Southern, from Ellesmere who is also in upper sixth, and who has been offered a place to read medicine at Brasenose College, Oxford goes on to say “I think the IB really prepares you for university life as it demands that you learn to manage your time well. It involves you in lots of differing activities and requires organization and dedication.”
The IB is a not-for-profit organization which operates in 138 countries with 738,000 students worldwide and 55,000 graduates each year.The IB Diploma has an outstanding reputation for academic rigour and high-quality education which it has sustained for over 40 years, and it is growing fast in the UK. The number of UK schools offering the IB Diploma has doubled over the last few years and on current projections this expansion will quicken over the next two years. This rapid expansion has increased awareness of the IB at UK universities and this is what Durham University recently said about the IB diploma: “Our academic departments have noted the excellent preparation that the IB Diploma provides for university study, and we value the depth and breadth of study that it offers.” In fact its excellent international reputation means that students have access to the top universities worldwide.
Tom Carr, a pupil from Colwyn Bay sites his reasons for picking the IB as “wanting to keep my options open for as long as possible, as I am still undecided in the career that I wish to pursue”. Tom is thinking about medicine or law and is one of the school’s great debating team.
Emily Wynn, from Colwyn Bay and Sarah White from Tremerchion are both lower sixth girls and have been studying the IB since September. Emily achieved 8 A*, 1A and 1B for GCSE and is loving the IB course, she is also interested in doing medicine and wanted to keep her skill level as wide as possible to compete for places when it comes to university entry. Sarah also wanted to keep her options open, but says “One of the best aspects of the IB for me is meeting lots of new friends from all different cultures. I have lots of international friends now and feel well equipped to go out and work in the world. With an interest in studying Management and Finance at the London school of Economics this really would be advantageous.
The IB encourages a positive attitude to learning by encouraging students to ask challenging questions, to critically reflect, to develop research skills, and to learn how to learn. An element of community service is encouraged because the IB recognizes that there is more to learning than academic studies alone. Lauretta Leung, from Anglesey said “I love the community work, it makes me feel part of a bigger world and one in which we contribute”. This ethos fits well within the Rydal Penrhos School community and extends across the whole sixth form.

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

NON-SELECTIVE SCHOOL’S SOLID PERFORMANCE IN A-LEVELS

Despite growing numbers of students opting for the International Baccalaureate Diploma at Rossall School, Fleetwood, the independent school returned a solid performance in this year’s A-level results with a percentage pass rate of 91% A-E grades and a 6% rise in A-B grades to 63%, a rise which is significant given the school’s non-selective policy, which means that students of all abilities are allowed to sit the examinations of their choice.

Forty nine sixth form students sat a total of 23 subjects in this year’s examinations with the remaining sixth form population opting for International Baccalaureate in which the school excelled with a number of students amongst the highest points achievers worldwide.

Among the straight ‘A’ students this year was outgoing school captain, James Cross of Stanley Park, Blackpool who took three subjects – English Literature, Geography and History, and achieved the top pass rate in each, which means he is now on his way to study English at Oxford University. Also among the ‘A’ grades with four top passes was Garstang student, Toby Ma, who joined Rossall in 1994. His father Ken is owner, manager of Garstang’s prominent town centre Chinese eaterie the Ken Ma Restaurant. He is “delighted” that Toby will now achieve his ambition to study medicine at Sheffield University. Toby gained his straight ‘A’s’ in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.

Rossall teacher’s son, Alex Alonso of Thornton will head for York University and an English degree course following his three A’s in Chemistry, English Literature and Mathematics, and a ‘B’ in Further Mathematics. Mum, Sharon, who teaches Spanish at the School is overjoyed by his results. She said: “Alex has put in a tremendous amount of work, as have all students, so to see him get such high marks is very rewarding.”

Thornton student, Charlotte Armstrong, 18, has double reason to celebrate today, with two A grades in English Literature and Music and a B in religious studies paving the way for her acceptance by Durham University, where she’ll study music in an attempt to emulate her cousin, Jane Wilkinson, also a former Rossall pupil, who is now one of Britain’s up and coming operatic sopranos. However, she won’t take up her place at Durham until next year, because she is also one of only 35 UK students to have gained a scholarship to a top independent school in America through the English Speaking Union, and in September she’ll take a place at the prestigious Tabor Academy in Massachusetts.

Commenting on this year’s performance, Rossall’s senior mistress, Jean Briggs said: “Although our pass rate overall was similar to last year it is particularly encouraging to see that we have more students achieving higher grades, as illustrated by our 6% increase in A-B grades, taking us to 63%.

“As a non-selective school we believe that even those pupils with weaker academic backgrounds should be given every opportunity possible, and our improvement in the A-B grades is proof that our policy is successful for the school and more importantly, for the pupils. Some students have achieved beyond their expectations.

The full results are:
Five Passes: L MAMANI
N TRAN

Four Passes: A ALONSO
Z BAI
L CHU
K LAM
S LEE
S LU
T MA
M NGUYEN
F PARKER
J SHUI
A SUN
J XU

Three Passes: H ANDERSON
C ARMSTRONG
H BENNETT
J CATER
S CHELTON
J CROSS
K DAVIES
R DOCHERTY
F FAN
X FU
L GILLESPIE
S HARDIE
H INGLE
T KENYON
S SALNIKOV
J THOMPSON
T TSUI
P TUNG
M WONG
J YU

Two Passes: M CHEN
T CHEN
J CHEN
S HUANG
W WANG
B WU
A ZOU

One Pass: L LARK
J LIAO
P EISSEN
F MEUER
T NGUYEN

International Baccalaureate Diploma Passes
In addition to A-levels, 32 students studied for the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma in Rossall School Sixth Form. Many candidates passed with scores above the international average, increasing the School’s pass rate by 10% to 84.38%, which takes it above the world average.

Rossall is one of a select number of school’s in the UK with lengthy experience in IB. The school’s dedicated IB department has been working with Diploma students for twelve years and the school’s experience is reflected in the performance of its IB graduates, many of whom will now go on to study at some of the top universities in the UK and overseas.

The School’s top scoring student, Isabell Mencher from Stuttgart, Germany, achieved 44 from a possible maximum points total of 45 for six subjects (the maximum number of subjects permissible), but also added an extra seven points by passing a seventh subject, Spanish, which regrettably won’t be counted in her total. She is joined in the high pass grades by local student, 18-year-old, Sam Ireland of Bispham (42 points) and local golfing sensation, Jenna Birch, also 18, of Larkholme (33 points). Anh Vu, a Vietnamese boarder at the school achieved the school’s second highest total with 43 points. Last year, there was not one recorded pass in the world with a full 45 points and only 0.03% of all students achieved 44 points. There were similar percentage passes for 43 and 42 points totals. .

IB results for the class of 2009 at St Clare’s, Oxford

St. Clare’s is delighted to announce another set of really good results this year. Our average score was 34.40 which is the equivalent of 4 grades A’s at A Level; we felt that it was an excellent reflection of the year group.

This year only 68 of the 45,132 students worldwide (0.15% of candidates) gained the magical 45 points meaning that they had gained full marks in every component. Two of those delighted students were from St Clare’s, Oxford.

We achieved:
·An outstanding overall pass rate of over 97% and an average points score of 34.4 – this kept us well ahead of the world average points score of 29.53
·46 students with 35 points or more (considered equivalent to 4.5 grade As at A level) = 45%
·16 student gaining the elite category of 40+points (top 5% around the world) = 16%
·2 students with 45 points, the maximum possible score achieved by only 68 students worldwide i.e. 0.15% of candidates around the world.

This is the sixth consecutive year in which we have had 44 and 45 point students, an outstanding achievement in the fiercely competitive IB environment.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE RESULTS UP AT ROSSALL

The eagerly awaited International Baccalaureate results are out and the area’s longest-established study centre for the prestigious Diploma, has recorded a 10% overall increase in pass rate, taking it above the world average.

Rossall School, Fleetwood, which is now in its twelfth year of teaching IB, has increased its pass rate to 84.38% and has a number of the world’s top scoring Diploma students, in what is recognized as a more challenging alternative to A-levels. The School’s top scoring student, Isabell Mencher from Stuttgart, Germany achieved 44 from a possible maximum points total of 45 for six subjects (the maximum number of subjects permissible), but also added an extra seven points by passing a seventh subject, Spanish, which regrettably won’t be counted in her total. She is joined in the high pass grades by local student, 18-year-old, Sam Ireland of Bispham (42 points) and local golfing sensation, Jenna Birch, also 18, of Larkholme (33 points). Anh Vu, a Vietnamese boarder at the school achieved the school’s second highest total with 43 points.

Last year, there was not one recorded pass in the world with a full 45 points and only 0.03% of all students achieved 44 points, and there were similar percentage passes for 43 and 42 points totals. Those statistics show that this year’s figures indicate a remarkable performance from a non-selective school, and IB supporters will also suggest that the consistency of annual pass rates indicates that, unlike A-Levels, there is no grade inflation with the International Baccalaureate. This they argue is because the IB is free of political interference.

Developed by the International Baccalaureate Organisation, a non-profit making educational foundation in Switzerland, the Diploma is built around a strong intellectual philosophy of breadth, depth, personal study and community/international awareness. The IB Diploma involves students gaining a number of points from the study of six subjects and the ‘Core’. The ‘Core’ comprises three additional areas where students study the Theory of Knowledge; produce an Extended Essay of around 4,000 words under personal tutelage and involve themselves in a programme of Creative, Action and Service, to encourage community involvement and to develop themselves as people and members of the wider community. They must also study sport or art related activities.

With more than a decade’s involvement with the International Baccalaureate, Rossall’s experience has been the key to its successful year. Commented Rossall IB Co-ordinator, Dr Doris Dohmen: “Although we have a percentage of overseas students coming here specifically to study for the IB, the number of local students taking the Diploma is on the increase. Many take the IB because of its acceptance by the world’s leading universities, but equally they are taking it to stretch themselves and because they know it will improve them in so many ways. It’s an extremely demanding two-year study, but I’m delighted with the application of our students this year who have reaped the rewards for their efforts with outstanding pass scores.”

Local student Sam Ireland, whose points score was equivalent to 6 A grade A-levels, is now off to study medicine at University College London and is pleased with his achievement. He said: “I’ve been studying really hard for the Diploma and keeping up a part-time job during evenings and weekends as a waiter at the Imperial Hotel, to try to get some money behind me before I go to university, so it’s great to get the results and the score of 42 out of 45. It was worth the effort and I hope I can now achieve my goal of becoming a doctor. That would really please my mum who’s a district nurse in Blackpool!”

Following its experience with the IB Diploma for Sixth Form students, Rossall is now one of only a handful of schools in the UK to offer the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, which prepares junior school pupils for IB study.

Photo caption: Sam Ireland, pictured with Rossall headmaster, Dr Stephen Winkley at the School’s Prize Day, where the top International Baccalaureate student also scooped five of Rossall’s most coveted awards.