insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 06 - August 2015 | Page 87

EDUCATION

Buckswood celebrates 100% pass-rate for IB Diploma for the third year in a row
The results for IB Diploma students were
released in July, and the students and staff at
Buckswood School, Guestling are celebrating
another year of 100% passes.
This is the third year Buckswood School have
offered the IB programme with the qualification
suiting students who wish to study a broader
range of subjects, rather than specialising in
four subject areas as in the A Level programme.
Under the IB system, students study six
academic areas, a theory of knowledge and
have to undertake a creative action service
element which includes voluntary, charitable
works.
The school has also seen the Duke of
Edinburgh program (which is used in the IB
course) becoming more popular extending to
younger students who have started the Bronze
award in the Junior School. Programme
Co-ordinator Mike Lawless said of this year’s
activities: “Buckswood is all about thinking

outside the box and getting some real world
experience. The Duke of Edinburgh awards fits
in perfectly with the school’s ethos and the
pupils have really stepped up to the plate
learning to live outdoors independently and face
any challenge that presents itself.”
The IB Diploma is an alternative to traditional A
Levels and are recognised globally for entry into
university. The International Baccalaureate (IB)
was founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1968 as
a non-profit educational foundation. A group of
talented, forward-thinking teachers at the
International School of Geneva, with assistance
from several other international schools, created
the IB Diploma Programme.

World Schools (authorised to offer one or more
of the programmes) being state schools.
Commenting on the School’s success,
Headteacher Mark Redsell said: “I am delighted
with yet another year of 100% success for our
students, and commend the staff who have
supported this year’s cohort to achieve another
set of great results.
“These students have got their results a few
weeks ahead of their friends taking A Levels, so
can now realx for the summer knowing that
their uni placements are secure”.

Although the first IB schools were
predominantly private international schools,
they included a very small number of private
national institutions and schools belonging to
state education departments. This has changed
over the years and today with over half of all IB

Get stuck into a good book this winter:
Creative Short Courses at West Dean College
As the rise of digital media takes
over in many areas of our lives,
more and more people are
enjoying the hands-on processes
involved with bookbinding, paper
making, calligraphy and
lettercutting.
West Dean College offers short
courses at every level and with
courses lasting from one to four
days there is something to suit
everyone.
An Introduction to Creative
Papermaking (NEW 30 October –
1 November, £230, suitable for all).
Artist and papermaker, Jane
Ponsford, will explore traditional
techniques to create paper
artworks inspired by the
landscape. Make pulps using
cotton rag, casting and couching,
laminating and embossing.

Designing a Self-published Book
with Alison Milner (NEW 18 – 21
January, £340, intermediate).
Gain the confidence to self-publish
a well-designed book using
software. Make exhibition
catalogues, travel stories or simply
record an event. Learn how to plan
a narrative structure, page layout,
select typeface and sequence
images to create a book.
Art Bound – Creating Artists’ Books
with Tracey Bush (NEW 25 – 28
February, £336, suitable for all).
Combine text and image to create
an artist’s book. Explore a range of
simple book formats, structures
and hand binding techniques. Ideal
if you have imagery on paper
(drawings, writing, prints, patterns,
photography etc).

Experimental Paper Bindings (NEW 8 – 10 April, £222, suitable for all).
Kathy Abbott will show you how to make two different non-adhesive
paper bindings as blank books, which are great starting points to develop
into more complex binding structures.
Letter Carving in Wood with Gary Breeze (14-17 April, £325, suitable for all).
Develop your own approach to carving lettering in wood through group
and individual tuition as you build your craft skills and gain a sound
understanding of good letterforms for a range of end uses.
www.westdean.org.uk

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