What is the Diploma Programme Curriculum?

The IBDP is a 2-year course whereby Students study six subjects chosen from 6 different option groups. Three of these subjects must be studied at Higher Level and the remaining 3 at Standard Level. The 6 groups are as follows:

• Group 1 - Studies in Language & Literature
• Group 2 - Language Acquisition
• Group 3 - Individuals & Societies
• Group 4 - Experimental Sciences
• Group 5 - Mathematics
• Group 6 - The Arts or option subject

Alongside the 6 subjects, all students complete the IB Core. The Core consists of 3 strands.

• Extended Essay is a personal research project whereby students design a research question based on a subject of interest and write a 4000-word essay answering their question and describing the research undertaken
• Theory of Knowledge invites students to question the basis and limits of knowledge from their own perspective
• Creativity, Action & Service. Students must undertake and reflect on a variety of activities. These may include learning to play an instrument, improving sporting skills or being a reading mentor. The school has an extensive range of service activities in the local community in which pupils are actively encouraged to take part.

Each of the 6 subjects has a maximum of 7 points available and the IB Core contributes a maximum of 3 points. A maximum of 45 points can be awarded in total. 

IBDP Core

One main part of the IBDP is the Core. The Core in the IBDP is worth up to 3 points. It consists of three components: 

1. Theory of Knowledge
2. Extended Essay
3. CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service) 

The Core is one of the big reasons why Universities love IBDP students.

• The Extended Essay, a 4000 word academic essay, as it mimics the essays that will be written at University.
• Theory of Knowledge, a course that is all about "knowing", as in a course based on questions such as "what is knowledge?", "how do we know?", and many more phtlosophical questions about what it means to "know". It allows students to evaluate different sources, question knowledge presented and determining what is reliable and what cannot be trusted. 
• CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service), which is a technically ungraded component of the core, but without passing it students do not get awarded the diploma. Throughout a students CAS experience the students are encouaged to think outside of the box, be innovative, think about other and create a balance between studies and their personal life. This is attractive to Universities, by allowing the students to have more non academic qualities on their applications, it shows that students are not only academic robots but well rounded students that are of high value. 

The IB learner profile

The IB learner profile places the student at the centre of an IB education. 

The 10 attributes reflect the holistic nature of an IB education. They highlight the importance of nurturing dispositions such as curiosity and compassion as well as developing knowledge and skills. They also highlight that along with cognitive development, IB programmes are concerned with students’ social, emotional and physical well-being, and with ensuring that students learn to respect themselves, others, and the world around them.