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WELCOME INTRODUCTION FROM THE HEAD OF SIXTH FORM It is my pleasure to introduce the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme available here at Wellington College International Shanghai. The IB Diploma is a highly valued and widely recognised programme designed to give pupils optimal preparation for further study, facilitate their mobility as global citizens, and promote international understanding. Designed to address pupils’ intellectual, social, emotional and physical needs, the holistic approach of the IB Diploma Programme is underpinned by a core that reflects our Wellington Values. The programme is intellectually inspiring and fosters a thirst for knowledge that pupils can pursue with increasing independence and apply in a variety of ways. These are values that I believe make the IB Diploma not just a qualification, but also the best possible preparation today’s pupils can undertake for life in an ever-changing, uncertain world. What will be required of future generations remains nebulous, however what is increasingly clear are the key skills and attributes that will help enable pupils to become successful adults, able to adapt and change regardless of what the future brings. IB INTRODUCTION The IB Diploma is undoubtedly a challenging and rigorous programme – our current and Old Wellingtonians regularly confirm this. However, they add that it is highly-stimulating and extremely rewarding, too. It is therefore unsurprising that pupils in possession of the diploma are made welcome by the world's top universities. Indeed, I believe it is the best course to follow for entry to the best universities, worldwide. Whether our pupils aim to pursue further study in the UK, the USA, Australia, China, or elsewhere, the IB Diploma is the best entry qualification. Once at university, they are in a strong position to undertake whatever course of study interests them, habituated to the demands, challenges and rigor of an undergraduate degree. The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) is a comprehensive and rigorous two-year curriculum, leading to examinations, for pupils aged between sixteen and nineteen. Based on the curriculum of no single country, it is a deliberate compromise between the specialisation required in some national systems and the breadth preferred in others. This booklet is designed to give you a brief outline of the different options you can study next year. We hope you will find the right course for you, one