The International Baccalaureate programme (IBDP) aims ‘to do more than other curricula by developing inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who are motivated to succeed’.
The university offers that our pupils receive are a positive reflection of how the IBDP is perceived by Admissions Officers.
The benefits to pupils are many. They are encouraged to think independently and take responsibility for their own learning; they become more culturally aware through the development of a second language; and are able to engage with people in a rapidly globalising world.
Our pupils are increasingly recognising the value of the qualification and there are many reasons at Bradfield why they decide to opt to follow this route in the Sixth Form.
Acquiring new skills
The course has gained a good reputation among pupils for providing the skills that they will need for whichever pathway they choose beyond Bradfield.
The IBDP is a motivational programme that keeps pupils busy all of the time. While admittedly there are pinch-points to navigate, which can cause even the most organised to ‘wobble’, all pupils build up a range of transferable skills throughout the 18-month study programme that prove invaluable once they are at university and later on in the workplace.
These include time-management, collaboration, communication, problem solving, meeting deadlines and juggling numerous diverse tasks, all whilst continuing to partake in creative, active and service orientated activities in the Bradfield community as a whole.
We have seen pupils push on from their GCSE years to become dedicated, animated individuals who are involved in a variety of different fields within the College, whilst managing to hand in their prep on time and chip away at the various pieces of coursework that the programme demands.
Attractive to universities
Universities worldwide have now developed a far better understanding of the type of individual that they are getting when they make an offer to an IBDP pupil. The offers that our pupils receive are a positive reflection of how the IB Diploma is perceived by Admissions Officers and enhances its appeal yet further.
The IB Diploma fits in beautifully with what is on offer for pupils as they progress through the years at Bradfield.
For those unfamiliar with the IBDP grading system, pupils can achieve a grade of between one and seven for each of their six subject groups. The core includes the Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay components which are individually assessed but can contribute a further three points, making a highest possible score of 45 (equivalent to five A* at A Level). Pupils must also participate in a Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) component to complete the course.
In a survey, university Admissions Officers were asked how well both A Level and IBDP pupils develop certain qualities and for the IBDP, up in the 90th percentile were such qualities as; nurturing an open mind, encouraging a global outlook, developing self-management skills and encouraging independent inquiry. All of these attributes are invaluable to further study and living a fulfilling life as a well-balanced person.
Greater subject choice
Some pupils elect for the rigours of the IBDP because certain subjects are on offer that are not available at A Level.
The most popular of these in recent years has been Psychology which Bradfield initially introduced as an online course, however, due to popular demand, the subject was brought in-house and we now have two thriving sets studying the subject in the classroom.
Fits with our holistic approach
The IBDP is an educational programme that fits in beautifully with what is on offer for pupils as they progress through the years at Bradfield College.
Divisions in Year 9 combines the humanities subjects through a holistic programme and this pathway continues through the Bradfield Diploma where pupils learn the type of transferable skills that are enhanced throughout their IBDP studies in the Upper School.
We look forward to seeing what our current and future cohorts can achieve on this multifaceted qualification.
