In order to provide all our students with a stimulating and creative curriculum, we offer the choice of studying the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) or A Levels in the Sixth Form.
The ethos of the IB, with its broad curriculum and emphasis on study skills, community service and internationalism fits well with our Quaker values. Students study six subjects: three at higher level and three at standard level, with the organisation of subject choices ensuring that they maintain a breadth of study across English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Languages and Arts.
As well as academic skills, IB students are asked to demonstrate initiative, independence and organisation. They study the Theory of Knowledge and are asked to reflect upon both their academic subjects and their personal development. Creativity, Activity, Service, where students participate in creative, physical and service activities in the local community, is also a key element of the programme.
The International Baccalaureate was originally launched in 1968 and now involves some 80,000 students studying in 125 countries. It is highly regarded internationally and recognised by all UK universities. It is also attractive to employers due to the variety of skills and personal attributes developed through the programme.
The IB Structure & Subjects
The IB Diploma programme involves the study of subjects chosen from each of the six groups:
Group 1: Language/Literature (usually your native tongue)
Group 2: A second language (another modern language)
Group 3: Individuals and Society (Economics, Geography, History, Psychology)
Group 4: Experimental Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
Group 5: Mathematics (Applications & Interpretations)
Group 6: The Arts (Visual Arts, Music, Theatre Studies)
There is a wide choice of subjects on offer, and students select three to be studied at Higher Level and three at Standard Level.
Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
The Theory of Knowledge (TOK) aspect of the International Baccalaureate is fundamental to the operation of the entire Diploma course. TOK comes into the way each subject is taught in every one of the six groups. Additionally, there will be two timetabled periods per week dedicated to discussing and developing ideas. The central theme of TOK is a questioning approach. Knowledge and “known facts” are considered – are they true, and can we be sure that they are true? Contemporary issues, moral and ethical issues, and some issues which have been around for centuries will all be debated. Students may have a particular leaning towards one subject over another. Teachers will obviously have a leaning towards their specialist subject. This will affect how individuals approach TOK. Mathematicians will “know” things in a very different way to Historians. Throughout the course, students will study how various subject areas approach the concept of “truth”. The areas are Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Human Sciences, History, Arts and Ethics. The assessment for this section of the IB Diploma will be in two parts. The first is an essay – the IB gives the choice of titles. Students will also have to prepare, give and evaluate a presentation for the rest of the class on a topic of their choice, assessed by the teacher.
The Extended Essay
Alongside core subjects, students undertake the Extended Essay. This is a supervised assignment on a topic that students choose for themselves. The topic must be selected from one of the IB subjects but does not have to be in a subject which you are studying for the Diploma. It should take about 40 hours in total and may be experimental or library research-based. Students should choose a topic that is both interesting and challenging, but one that can be examined in-depth. A teacher supervisor will give the student guidance and advice on the research and presentation of the essay. The maximum length is 4000 words. The processes of research and writing develop essential skills that provide good preparation for university.
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)
The International Baccalaureate programme was designed to meet the needs of a well-rounded student. The Creative, Active, and Service (CAS) requirements encourage IB students to excel in non-academic pursuits. At Sidcot, we will expect IB students to take advantage of a wide range of extracurricular opportunities. Our IB students may participate in any sports programme: basketball, cross-country, rugby, golf, soccer, netball, swimming, tennis, athletics, volleyball, and hockey, or even octopush!
Extracurricular opportunities available to IB students at Sidcot will not just be limited to sports. We encourage our IB students to participate in various activities, including the Student Council, History Club, Cookery Club, Textiles Club, Debating Club, Charity Support, IT Club, and our Environmental Awareness Group. IB students may be involved in Cantare (Choir), Orchestra or the Jazz Band, and it is likely that some may feature in one of our major drama productions during the year. They may assist in the publication of the Yearbook, or even be innovative and produce something like a literary magazine. We will also expect our IB students to work in our local community – this may be in a home for the elderly, a children’s home, a local charity shop, or even as part of a local environmental project.
In summary, we hope that IB students at Sidcot School will be active people. They must learn to balance a demanding academic programme with a busy social life and become respected for their energy and enthusiasm.
The Points System
Each subject examined is graded on a scale of 1(lowest) to 7 (highest). The maximum for all six subjects is 42 points. There are up to 3 extra points for both the Theory of Knowledge (essay and presentation) and the extended essay making a total of 45 points. To obtain a Diploma, students will normally have to achieve a score of 24 points and have successfully completed all components of the programme.
Find out more about our IB subject choices and the full programme here: