International Baccalaureate Careers Programme

[BertrandRussell]

Does anyone know anything about this and how it's regarded for university admission?

[Confutatis]

What do you mean?
I teach the IB diploma and most unis now have a good understanding of it.

[BertrandRussell]

Thank you. So a candidate with the IB careers programme would not be disadvantaged at all in university admissions against a candidate with A levels? Obviously excluding things like medicine and other subjects that ask for specific subjects?

[user7214743615]

What do you actually mean by IB careers programme - do you mean the IB diploma?

I would say that universities often make rather high offers for IB because of its different structure relative to A levels - it is much broader, develops a wider range of skills and encourages students to manage their time effectively (good) but covers a bit less material in higher level subjects (bad). For IB students to do well in science degrees, for example, they might well be asked to have 6+ in all their HL subjects, while one might ask for "only" AAB or ABB from A level students. But as pp says this issue has become better over recent years, as universities are now competing more heavily for students, and so IB offers have on the whole gotten more reasonable.

People do go onto medicine from IB although of course it is an issue that students cannot do all three sciences at HL level.

Beware that the workload is very high for IB and offers from the very top end of universities remain very high.

[BertrandRussell]

It's this I don't think many schools offer it.......

[user7214743615]

Ah, but the IB careers programme is not really intended for university entrance - for those who are intent of university, the IB diploma is the most appropriate choice. From the website you link:

"The CP is designed for students interested in pursuing a career-related education in the final two years of secondary school. It provides them with an excellent foundation to support their further studies as well as ensure their preparedness for success in the workforce."

From what they say, students on the IB careers programme take at least 2 IB diploma subjects (c.f. 6 + other components on IB diploma) and then take four other components on academic skills.

IB careers programme looks like it is more the equivalent of BTEC. It is very unlikely that the academic content would be sufficient for most mid to higher level UK university degrees. (It's certainly not accepted by my RG institution.)

[BertrandRussell]

Thank you. That's what I though. It looks like a brilliant programme- and very appropriate for the cohort of the school concerned. But it is being mis-sold as a viable alternative to A levels for university entrance. I think that there is a lot of confusion over Ucas points- lots of people seem to think that if you have enough Ucas points for a course it doen't matter how you get them.

[user7214743615]

I'm surprised that a UK state school would be interested in offering this - surely it is much more expensive to deliver than A levels/BTEC? Or is the amount of teaching contact time quite low? (IB Diploma is certainly too expensive for state schools and this is one of the reasons so few are now offering it.)

[BertrandRussell]

This is a school that has a very large cohort of low ability children for whom A levels wouldn't be appropriate. I don't have a problem with the programme itself- I think it looks really good. But I am worried about how it's being "sold".....

[user7214743615]

But I guess I am questioning whether they really have the resources to implement this programme properly....

BTW IB always looks good on paper, but its delivery varies immensely by provider. It is a programme, rather than a curriculum, and delivery depends on having appropriate experience, training and resources.

[Confutatis]

I've looked into this a little as it's a part of the IB that I'm not well acquainted with.
I suspect User is right. There are universities that will certainly accept this (and the student on the video clip is clearly at a uni) but many UK unis may well not accept the CP. This said, some will but they will be ones offering more vocational degrees.
You have another problem. It's new (2014) and so many simply won't have heard about it and won't understand it. It's not the diploma programme! Most unis tend to base offers and UCAS points around the diploma programme. Your school will know this and will be doing what it can to contact these unis and explain what it's all about, I'm sure.
Yes, I agree the programme looks good. You probably need to (politely!) ask the school lots of questions. I don't think the school will mind this as it will probably need to come up with good answers to satisfy itself. I've a feeling I know the answer... but would you be willing to share which school it is? I've a hunch I am visiting it in a few weeks...!!!

[BertrandRussell]

Confutatis- the school has a vaguely religious name........

[Confutatis]

OK, it's not the one I am visiting which doesn't have even a vaguely religious name!
I've been thinking about the post from a school management point of view. There are so many questions to answer when a qualification is new and it's very hard on the school. If I was you, I wouldn't leave it all to the school but do a lot of your own research re unis - and share this with the school. You will want to check every uni you DC is interested in IMO.

[BertrandRussell]

What a shame- that would have been fun! I think the school is a very early adopter.

Ds actually isn't interested in doing it- but I was just a bit alarmed by what we were being told on the 6th form open evening. He wants to move, but was assuming that his current school would be a fall back if he doesn't get the grades. But they have cut a couple of A levels, including one of his main choices, presumably to fund the IBPC. Which is, I think, a much better fit for the school if it works. But it's very naughty of them to be overselling it..........

[Confutatis]

Yes, I'd have been interested to compare notes. The school is in a really difficult situation. They have to be bullish about the new course and that invariably leads to overselling. I'm a total convert to the IB (I really love it, despite certain shortcomings that do annoy) so I can see why others want to push this course and perhaps persuade others to get involved when maybe there are better options. I'm really sorry to hear that cut backs are affecting the subjects on offer. That's really hard to swallow... I hope you find a 6th form that's right for him.