Another set of outstanding IB Diploma results for King Edward’s 6th Formers.

Twice as many pupils at King Edward’s achieved the top grades than was the case worldwide. Ulrike Schindlbeck achieved an outstanding 43 points out of 45 and she returns to Munich to study medicine. Elis Haskovcova gained 42 points, Mareike Aichholzer achieved 41 points and she hopes to join Ulrike to study medicine in Munich. In these days of grade inflation, the universities appreciate the transparency of the IB, which enables them to identify the top applicants.

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Local pupils Alexandra Smyth from Churt and Adam Appleton from Hydestile were both ecstatic with their 33 points, the equivalent of 3A* at A Level. Both are taking a gap year before going to universities. Alex is going to UWE to read Psychology and Adam is going to Brunel to read Journalism. It has been quite a week for Adam, who is also the School’s 1^st X1 Cricket Captain. On Sunday he batted impressively against the MCC and fell just short of a century, when he was caught on the boundary on 95 runs.

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It is, of course, not only about results. Little wonder that the IB Diploma is increasing rapidly in popularity in British schools and on an international basis. Free from political interference, it is a course designed by educationalists to ensure that the rigorous academic programmes are matched with the means to encourage young people to become inquiring, caring, open-minded, reflective, balanced, principled lifelong learners. These are skills that universities and employers value highly.

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The six subjects required at IB, together with an Extended essay, Theory of Knowledge and Creativity, Action and Service, demand a high level of commitment from pupils, but the rewards are many: increased likelihood of a university place, better preparation for independent learning which enables them to cope with university study and not drop out like so many undergraduates, better competitiveness in the international jobs market and a general readiness for life in the twenty-first century.

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In these days of uncertainty surrounding the future of A Levels, it is no wonder that King Edward’s is confident in its decision to offer the IB Diploma as its sole 6^th form curriculum from September 2010.