Sidcot's 1st International Baccalaureate (IB) Students Celebrate Fantastic Results
One of only 5 schools in Bristol and Somerset offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB), Sidcot School's first round of students studying the qualification received their exam results today.
Headteacher, John Walmsley, said "Our IB students continue to emulate the successful A-Level results Sidcot enjoys each year and we warmly congratulate all the students on their excellent performance. The IB course has a broader curriculum, is recognised all over the world and hasn't suffered from grade inflation in the same way that A-Levels has, so Universities think very highly of it. I am delighted with the expertise of the staff and dedication of the students in working with a new Diploma curriculum; our average grade for IB has worked out at 32 points, 2 points above the national average and equivalent to 3 grade As and a B at A Level. 50% of our IB students gained the equivalent of 5 A-Levels, 4 at grade A and 1 at grade C or above. These brilliant results demonstrate the quality of teaching we provide as a school and how we all rose to the challenge of taking on an entirely new learning experience".
John Walmsley's son James was one of the pioneer IB students at Sidcot, he gained 36 points (equivalent to 4 grade As and a C at A-Level) and has been accepted at Bristol University Medical School. Two other local students who did exceptionally well include Jamie Hutchinson from Churchill who gained an excellent 39 points (equivalent to 5 grade As at A-Level) who is going on to study Law at Southampton and Stephen Gower from Winscombe who also gained 36 points (4 grade As and a C at A-Level) and is going on to study Accounting & Finance at Cardiff.
Examinations are important but Education is about much more
At Sidcot we encourage children to think for themselves, to challenge fixed ideas and to deal with conflict in a positive and non-aggressive manner. Peer group pressure is at a minimum so that all students can give their best without having to conform to a collective norm. Yet again with our results, there is no statistical difference between boys and girls when nationally boys are 20% behind girls.
We believe that education is about much more than passing exams. It is equally important for our students to involve themselves in all other sporting, artistic, spiritual and community based activities which we offer. A fifth of our students come from 25 different countries and the school environment and atmosphere promotes the interchange of ideas across cultures and international divides. Children leave our school confident, resourceful and with a sense of involvement with the world at local and international levels.
The ethos of the International Baccalaureate fits very well with the ethos of a Quaker School and we believe that this course will grow and grow at Sidcot. It is a stretching, broad and exciting course that is very popular with Universities and prepares students very well for undergraduate studies. It sits alongside our already excellent A level courses and provides students with a real choice.
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