WELCOME
FROM THE HEAD OF
SENIOR SCHOOL
Not one single IB pupil anywhere in the world
has ever described the experience of studying
for the IB Diploma as “easy”. Every pupil finds
it highly demanding and that is where its appeal
and value lies – even if it may not often seem
like that for you at some point over the coming
two years.
Equally, though, many former IB pupils will tell
you that they only truly began to appreciate the
value of the IB Diploma Programme once they
had arrived at university. Those who do feel
this say they have found themselves more well
prepared than pupils who followed a narrower
curriculum because they not only studied
six different subjects, but were required to
draw connections between these and to think
critically about the very nature of the knowledge
they acquired. They have found the demands of
producing term papers and dissertations to be
more manageable because of the experience of
producing their Extended Essay.
At the same time, the sixth form covers two
years that should be enormously enjoyable
and full of good memories that last a lifetime.
It should be a time when you definitively
move towards being the kind of independent,
competent, sympathetic adult who shapes
the world around her or him, rather than
only ever reacting to it. Little of lasting value
is ever achieved without significant challenge
and effort. Because of this – not despite of
this – the next two years should be a very
special time. I hope the information contained
in this booklet proves useful in helping you
make the choices that ensure it will be.
Joseph McKee
Head of Senior School
They speak of feeling more able to work
independently and cope with a demanding
schedule because they learned to do so as
a matter of practical necessity in response
to the nature of the IB. So, yes, the diploma
programme is demanding. But if you can do
this, you should be more than ready for
whatever university life and young adulthood
can throw at you.
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