IB or A-Levels?

[DaysofHoney]

We are moving overseas soon and our kids will do high school abroad. There are two British Curriculum schools I am torn between, both seem excellent. One teaches A Levels, the other IB.

Which would you choose?

Neither child is wildly academic… but both average. They have broad interests including art, performance, sports etc.

I expect if they do opt to go to university then it would be in the UK.

Any initial thoughts on which you’d choose?

I did IB (nearly 2 decades ago).

My 'high-achieving' school switched to it from A Levels and I was glad they did... the fact I 'had' to do a range of subjects suited me more, and I think it's a good way for teenagers to be open to what they might study at university instead of pigeonholed into a small corner. Obv for many the fact you must cover other areas of study could put off a students effort and enthusiasm. For those who were intent on a specific career eg science, our school had careful discussions with the student and parents to specially allow them to forfeit another subject so they could do 2 sciences.

The CAS hours were also a great way to keep us rounded (some of my friends wouldn't have done or been supported by parents to do any sports/active events if it wasn't required).

A lot of students from my school went on to gain scholarships to prestigious US and European universities (instead of just the UK or Australia) which hadn't really been the case when the school was A-levels.

I do know people whose parents moved them to a rival school (A Levels) after GCSEs, however. Would be interesting to read the pros and cons these days.

I would go IB all the way. They are internationally recognised unlike a levels now. (thanks Brexit!) They are also more rounded so therefore more interesting

I'd say A levels if the plan is for a UK uni (assume you've looked at the home/international fee status). IB offers tend to be relatively higher compared to A level offers. (I'm assuming when you say they're average academically you mean MN average, not actually average, in which case more vocational quals would be recommended).

Not quite sure what Brexit has to do with the recognition of A levels though

I teach both - English teacher - and on balance, for most students I think Alevels are better. For a handful of super bright students, the ones who barely need teaching, it’s great. I’ve found the Literature element to be quite superficial as you have to cover so many texts and the students don’t get to develop their essay written skills in the same way.

How old are your children? IB Diploma and A Levels are just the last 2 years of school. Will they be spending any time at the school you choose before that? If so do the schools do GCSEs and IB MYP? In other words, you need to look at the whole curriculum, not just the end point.

Also, what are your children's strengths, weaknesses and interests? What subjects wold they not study if they didn't have to? How much do you care about public service and an international ethos?

The IB MYP is much more innovative than GCSEs. The IB Diploma is not as innovative as the MYP and it makes students continue with a broad range of subjects. Great if that suits you, but not great if you want to study three sciences or drop sciences completely.

Thanks for replies so far.

@Genevieva the kids are 7 and 9 now (year 4 and year 2), but both schools go all the way through, and given how much they have already moved, I really want to keep them in one place! Although I realise it’s a long way off.

I like the idea of the IB having a more rounded curriculum, and innovative definitely sounds good. The kids are creative, interested in the real world, and they are outgoing/inquisitive but not necessarily traditionally bright. As a PP said, they are probably MN ‘average’ - doing just fine in a London state school but wouldn’t be passing the competitive 11+ in London (might have had success in a grammar county etc).

The international school teaches IGCSE and then IBDP. The other school teaches GCSE then A-Levels.

@DaysofHoney. There is not a huge difference between IGCSEs and GCSEs. I would honestly put more emphasis on which school you would prefer to take them up to 16. Y12 is still 7 to 9 years away!

IB Diploma is extremely demanding because the children have to do 6 subjects instead of 3 or 4 and they have to do a raft of other things that have precious little weighting in their final grade - Theory of Knowledge, Creative Active and Social hours and an extended essay. Unlike the MYP, the DP course specifications are written by the IBO, so the teachers can just teach them as they teach A Levels.

Personally, I am of the view that a school that offers GCSEs or IGCSEs instead of the MYP has no concept of IB culture. For the IBO the final exam result is less important that the experience of doing the programme in its entirety. The fact that a core part of the DP does not attract many marks is immaterial. In the British / GCSE system exam results are everything and this feeds into their approach to the DP too. Kids often have a . You can see this in the fact that box-ticking approach to those additional requirements. They jump through the hoop with the minimum effort possible because it is a requirement, rather than understanding their value for their own sake. All-through IB schools seem to be better at instilling a culture of valuing these requirements. Equally, all private schools offer a good range of extracurricular opportunities and A Level students will often do them anyway. They just won't be counting the hours.

Honestly, I don't think the IB DP verses A Levels should be top of your priority list for deciding which school. Both routes provide children with the opportunity to study a range of subjects from different areas of the curriculum if they choose to. Both (despite what someone said above) are properly accredited and internationally recognised, as are GCSEs and IGCSEs. Both offer excellent preparation for university. With this in mind, I would focus on other things:

• Did the children you saw when you visited appear to be happy and thriving?
• What do you think of the pastoral care?
• Can they meet your children's extracurricular needs?
• Do you think they attract and retain excellent teaching staff?
• Do you like the physical environment (it will be where your children spend most of most days for the next 9 to 11 years)?
• Do you think the school is well run by the current senior leadership team?

Some foreign unis won't accept a levels now. And they have to do additional qualifications on top to get in. Spain for example. Brexit took away the transportability of qualifications to all areas including workplaces and universities. Si an International qualification such as IB takes away that issue

There's no guarantee at all that either school would still do the same qualifications in 10 years time.

Choose whichever school you like better for your children now!

They might want a change by the time it comes to sixth form, anyway!