International Baccalaureate

An international qualification which is offered by many independent schools in the UK.

There are 3 different International Baccalaureates:
1. Primary years programme (for 3-to-12-year olds);
2. Middle years programme (for 11-to-16-year olds);
3. Diploma programme (for 16-to-19-year olds).

Middle years programme
The programme consists of eight subject groups, typically being delivered over a 5-year period. Students are required to study the following:
• Language and literature.
• Language acquisition.
• Individuals and societies (humanities, social sciences).
• Sciences.
• Mathematics.
• Arts.
• Physical and health education.
• Design.
In addition, there is a personal project which pulls together what has been learnt throughout the programme.

Diploma programme
The programme consists of six subject groups, typically being delivered over a 2-year period. Students are required to study the following:
• Studies in language and literature (in own language).
• Language acquisition (learning a second language).
• Individuals and societies: This could be social studies, geography, history and other subject areas to choose from.
• Sciences (e.g. biology, chemistry, physics, design technology. environmental systems and societies).
• Mathematics.
• The arts (e.g. film, music, theatre, visual arts).

In addition, the programme has three core sections for the application of knowledge and understanding:
• An extended essay.
• Theory of knowledge.
• Creativity, action, service.