International Baccalureat anyone?

[BaconAndAvocado]

DS15 is currently in Year 11 at one of the local grammar schools. His school have started telling the kids about the IB and the benefits of it versus A levels.
There is a meeting for parents next week.
Just wondered if anyone has experience of this qualification and how hard it is.
DS is not an all-rounder (better at Maths and Science rather than Humanities) and he can’t stand Foreign Languages, which I understand they have to take to complete the IB.
He would have the option of applying to another local grammar which offers just A levels.
He said he’s not sure what he wants to do yet. He doesn’t know which career path he wants to pursue.
Ive heard from other parents that the IB is difficult and I wonder whether he would be better off just studying 3 subjects that he likes.

An update....DS seems set on staying at his current school which only offers the IB diploma or the Career-related programme.
I still feel that the Diploma will be far too intense for him and that he will be selling himself short by doing the Career related programme.
He wants to go to University and only about half of the students that opt for the Career related programme do so.

Arghhhh!
He’s 16. Do I need to back off and let him make his own choices or,push for him to go to the other local grammar and do straight A levels?

It sounds like your son has two good options. As long as he understands all the implications I would be find with that.

For me the order of priority would be:

1. Friendships. Being happy at school means a lot.
2. Subject choices. How does he feel about having to drop a science? I think you can only do a maximum of 2 sciences for IB, but I might be wrong.
3. Is he willing to do the work involved in maintaining more subjects for longer?

As neither option is bad, I think he has reached an age where the decision should be his.

It’s difficult if friendships outweigh common sense re subjects. With IB workload, will
he achieve what he needs for his aspirations re university? Are no other dc/friends wanting the grammar? This seems unlikely. 16 year olds do have strong opinions though!

I did IB at a state school, about 13 years ago. I really liked that you could keep a range of subjects as I had no idea what I wanted to do after 6th form. It is hard work. It may have changed but when I did it, it was very coursework heavy which I loved. And no exams in Year 12, only at the end.
There was only 12 of us doing IB in my 6th form, out of about 500 students, and they actually stopped offering IB a couple of years later. I had quite a few classes with only 2-3 students because of that!

Genevieva your point 1. makes perfect sense.
We are going to view the grammar that offers straight A levels tonight. DS’s older brother went there and did well.

After tonight, the decision will be his.

DS liked the school offering straight A levels and has decided to apply! Now he’s just got to get the grades.