Would you consider an IB school?

[Cortina]

Are there are any UK schools that teach IB all the way through, from Primary Years Programme up?

From what I read a more holistic, creative approach to education could be a welcome change.

Is the National Curriculum too limiting, rigid and does it take account of the different learning styles people have?

[wicked]

ACS schools teach PYP, MYP and the IB diploma.

[coffeeinbed]

There are lots of UK schools, private ans state too.
DS did it, not sure it was worth all the hassle to be honest.

[Cortina]

What's an ACS school? Thanks

[wicked]

ACS was formerly know an the American Community Schools in the days when they prepared students for a US high school diploma.

Now that they are doing IB, they are known as ACS International.

[Cortina]

Thanks, Wicked. So it's only American schools providing this is it? Which others coffeeinbed?

I've been hearing lots recently about intuitive learning/education? What is it and has anyone any experience of it?

Coffeeinbed why was it 'hassle'? thanks!

[wicked]

Look up www.ibo.org to find your nearest school offering the program.

[coffeeinbed]

It's not only American schools.
There'a ISL and Southbank in London, both international, Richmond College does it - for free! Wimbledon College as well.
Lots more I should think.
Hassle - lots more work for them tbs as they cannot drop subjects and have to work on that and the Essay and the community hours and so on.
I don't really think it gets them the equivalent in better offers from Unis later.
JMO

[Cortina]

Thanks Wicked! What's your take?

[Cortina]

Not that many that offer PYP looking at the link.

I wonder if the mindset will shift in time with it? Will Unis begin to view it differently as it gains in popularity?

I think it's currently seen as being a tough option rather than a challenging and interesting one? Surely it's much more of a creative, less prescriptive approach?

Probably much easier to handle and more interesting/rewarding if you've been in the 'system' since 5 years old? More play based learning for longer for younger children too, which IMO is v encouraging.

[wicked]

I would say that if you are going to pay for education, a tradition British establishment is better. JMO.

I don't really know anything about the PYP, but if holistic is what you are after, you are just as likely to find it in a prep school. I can understand why you would not want to have your child just do literacy and numeracy.

I know kids who have been through the MYP and IB, and tbh, it seemed like a lot of rote learning and very geared up towards American style assessments (where you get credits and grades and markes taken off for late homework).

For all the government has balls-up GCSEs and A-levels, I don't think the IB is the magic bullet. In its own way, it is very prescriptive and not perfect for someone who is ready to specialise early.

[wicked]

Another thing to think about is that given the IB is going to be mostly done in international schools, especially PYP and MYP, you find that their student body is very mobile. Students can be there for a matter of weeks before moving on to their next international school. The IB allows them to continue their education with less disruption, but it takes its toll on friendships, including those who are left behind.

It's not great for your kid if they are the kind to get attached to someone who then moves away. Interntionally mobile kids are hardened to this. If you want to pursue this kind of education, I would urge you to choose a school where they have a good proportion of permanent children.

[SofaQueen]

There are traditional British school which offer IB, Kings College in Wimbledon being one (many others, and more are starting to offer it as an option).

[wicked]

There are quite a few schools offering the IB diploma (last two years of school, so basically sixth form).

There are far fewer schools offering the Primary Years and Middle Years programs. State schools can't really offer them as they are at odds with the national curriculum (compulsory to age 16), although there may be a few pilot programs for the MYP.

[coffeeinbed]

What Wicked said.
It can be very unstable. It's hard.

[Bubbaluv]

My Au Pair just finished highschool at an IB school and can't stop raving about how great it was. Never heard that from any student from any other school EVER!

[Maize]

IB at 16-18 is very very hard. Its not geared up to the UK university system (of course) but it can cause issues.

If you fail one part of it you fail it all which is a bummer really! Lots of work as well. Universities don't understand it sometimes so they make offers based on quite high scores compared to what they may ask for from an A'Level student.

I did A'Levels abroad and chose them over IB for lots of reasons.

[coffeeinbed]

Oh I'm fairly new here but I love it. I seem to agree with everybody. ;)
Some university offers are ridiculously high, some don't make sense at all, but that might well change in a few years.
And I realise I'm contradicting myself, but yes, they do love it. There's a bit of that ' We are the few tough ones!" attitude.
Doesn't make it easier.

[Cortina]

Why does it seem to be more popular elsewhere in Europe and the world?

[minervaitalica]

Cortina

I did the IB in 1994-96 (not in the UK though) - a lot of us got into British Unis with no problems. These days it is even easier, particularly since UCAS has made clear what IB scores correspond to in A level terms. I would say that the IB is deffo broader - for a start you cannot give up your native language or maths (which imo is a massive problem with the current system, which leads to lots of graduates unable to spell or read stats/do basic maths). HOWEVER, it is still very anglo-saxon in style so you can still be taught to the exam etc; doing the IB is not a substitute for a good school.

If you apply to Oxbridge or the Russell Group, then your offer for the IB is likely to hover around 38 points+, which is quite hard to achieve but you do not need to be a genius for, ifykwIm.

[wicked]

If you are interested in a university that gives offers based on UCAS points, then the IB will serve you well. The number of UCAS points per grade is really quite out of proportion with A-levels.

For example, if you are in a moderately decent sixth form and do 3 A-levels and 1 AS-level, you will get 420 UCAS points for straight As (very hard to achieve). A similar level of performance in IB is something like 700 UCAS points, so you only have to do moderately well to get the same as a straight A student at A-level.

(saying that, universities that offer on points tend to be BBB or BBC places, so not looking at 400 points).

[shockers]

I think PYP is a very holistic way of teaching/learning. Don't know much about IB because we aren't at that stage yet.

[shockers]

Sorry, in answer to your question, yes there are.

[bloss]

Message withdrawn

[minervaitalica]

Even superb linguists need some level of maths in life - and the lowest level of IB maths should be doable by the vast majority of the population.

Also - a superb linguist can take a 3rd language as an extra subject?

[Cortina]

Is Maths taught differently with IB? More holistically? Provision for different learning styles?