Having recently celebrated its 70th anniversary, St Clare’s, Oxford discusses the benefits of IB for all students in achieving goals and preparing for a changing world

We are living in ever-changing times, and if you’re a teenager you need an education which is going to help you to thrive on change. St Clare’s has been delivering the International Baccalaureate (IB) for 45 years, longer than any other school in England, attracting students from over 50 countries and embracing internationalism and academic excellence as core values. We are often asked about the benefits of the IB Diploma over other education models.

For parents with teenage children the current incarnation of the A level might seem quite familiar. Usually three subjects are taken and, with a few exceptions, are examined terminally. These subjects are chosen from a wide range of options, with no compulsory subjects and no requirement for them to be closely related. Most schools do add other elements to deliver a more ’rounded’ education.

The IB Diploma has the elements of a rounded education built in. At the centre are the core elements: an extended essay, a theory of knowledge course and an extracurricular programme including creativity, sports and community service. These contribute to the overall points score and help to bind together the learning from the subject areas. Six subjects are studied for the IB in the UK, including English, another language, mathematics, a science, a humanity, and a free choice – this might be something creative, or perhaps a second science or humanities subject.

“If you don’t know what you want to do at age 16, then the IB keeps more doors open for longer”

So, is the IB better than A levels? If you don’t have a tight area of focus, or are good at a range of subjects, or even just don’t know what you want to do yet, then the IB keeps more doors open for longer. As IB courses all have a coursework element, the programme gets students into a productive work rhythm. Another benefit is that takes some pressure off the final exams.

Universities find IB students very well prepared for tertiary study because they have already learnt how to manage their time and how to prioritise. Our Careers and Higher Education Department, made up of three full-time advisors, supports and sends students to universities worldwide. Time and again we hear from universities in every region that IB Diploma students are at the front of the queue when they are making offers.

A common misconception is that IB is only for the most able students. Our experience is that weaker learners often benefit from the greater structure in the IB and achieve better results through high levels of progress. St Clare’s is proud of its track record on individual progress and its IB scores. Every year, we have students who achieve the maximum IB score of 45, placing them in the top 1% of students globally So, the take home message for young people is to make the choice between A level and IB in an informed manner.

As we celebrate our 70th anniversary at St Clare’s, our core mission to ‘advance international education and understanding’ remains and is still underpinned in the school’s day-to-day life. In different ways, for hundreds of students every year, we make this vision a reality.

St Clare’s, Oxford stclares.ac.uk

Further reading: MPW’s enlightened approach to education

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