1. Universities and the IB Bryanston school 3rd October 2014
Peter Fidczuk
IB UK Development and Recognition Manager
(formerly Director IB, Dartford Grammar School)

2. CBI Education & Skills Survey 2012
What do Employers want?
CBI Education & Skills Survey 2012
John Cridland, CBI Director-General, said:
"It's alarming that a significant number of employers have concerns about the basic skills of school and college leavers. Companies do not expect them to produce 'job-ready' young people, but having a solid foundation in basic skills, such as literacy and numeracy, is fundamental for work."

3. What do Employers want? CBI Education & Skills Survey 2013

4. What do Employers want? CBI Education & Skills Survey 2014

5. What do Universities want?
UEA comments at the Westminster Education Forum 2014
Students starting at university have the following problems:
Forgotten much subject knowledge
Lack ability to inquire
Lack ability to read extended texts
Lack ability to select sources and extract relevant material

6. What do Universities want? Nottingham - cognitive skills
Analysing
Synthesising
Critical thinking
Evaluating
Problem solving
Inquiring mind
Intellectual insight
Innovation
Argument construction
Intellectual risk

7. Over half a million graduates since 1970
Available in English, French, Spanish with examinations in May and November each year
Diploma students take six subjects plus they write a 4,000 word extended essay, complete a course in theory of knowledge, and complete a number of creativity, action and service projects
The diploma is well recognized by the world’s leading universities
Alternatively, students can opt to take individual certificates in one or more subjects
Many IB schools teach the Diploma Programme along-side national programmes
The DP courses online project allows students to study a variety of Diploma subjects with other students from around the world led by an IB teacher and distance learning online

8. IB learner profile
The IB learner profile is the IB mission statement translated into a set of learning outcomes for the 21st century
As IB learners we strive to be:
inquirers
knowledgeable
thinkers
communicators
principled
open-minded
caring
risk-takers
balanced
reflective

9. The IB Diploma

10. Levels and Points Standard Level – broadly similar to AS level
Higher level –broadly similar to A2 level
Usually HL and SL
Each assessed on a 1 to 7 scale
Total 42 points + 3 for Core = 45 max (146 in 2014)

11. IB Diploma Broad & balanced does not mean shallow
Linear, not modular (synoptic exams in May of Year 13)
Connections within subject areas
Connections between subject areas
Assessment: more ‘open question’ than A level (hard to ‘teach to the test’)
Standard Level (SL) courses are as challenging as Higher Level (HL)
Theory of Knowledge (TOK) a very good indicator of a student’s ability to think analytically, critically and independently

12. The IB Diploma Core Theory of Knowledge (graded A-E)
4000 word Extended Essay (graded A-E)
Creativity, Action & Service

13. Theory of Knowledge

14. Sample TOK Questions
Knowledge is generated through the interaction of critical and creative thinking. Evaluate this statement in two areas of knowledge
‘Through different methods of justification, we can reach conclusions in ethics that are as well-supported as those provided in mathematics.’ To what extent would you agree?
‘What separates sciences from all human activities is its belief in the provisional nature of all conclusions’. (Michael Shermer). Critically evaluate this way of distinguishing the sciences from other areas of knowledge.
Using history and at least one other area of knowledge, examine the claim that it is possible to attain knowledge despite problems of bias and selection.

15. The Extended Essay Research project Limited teacher input
Extended piece of writing
Structured argument central
Must demonstrate inquiry/research/investigation/analysis

16. The Extended Essay
What are the key factors John Williams employs to create an original soundtrack that is aurally appealing and a skilful underscore?
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin: to what extent is there a relationship between culture and identity?
Is artificial intelligence real intelligence? An analysis of internet systems and algorithms behind them.
Can there be any moral justification for the war in Iraq?
To what extent can the defence of Thermopylae and Artemisium be seen as a turning point in the Persian Wars?
To what extent is Cillit Bang safe to use?

17. Creativity Action Service (CAS)
Experiential Learning
About 150 hours over the course of two years
Must be completed and 8 learning outcomes satisfied to pass the diploma
Changes students’ perceptions and takes them out of their comfort zone

18. CAS
increased their awareness of their own strengths and areas for growth
undertaken new challenges
planned and initiated activities
worked collaboratively with others
shown perseverance and commitment in their activities
engaged with issues of global importance
considered the ethical implications of their actions
developed new skills

19. Any questions?

20. Universities’ Perceptions of the Diploma

23. What do Universities say?
Oxford comments at the IBSCA HE Conference 2014
IB is a “great qualification” as it is:
Challenging
Offers a global perspective
Integrated programme
Interdisciplinary
develops essay writing skills
Extended Essay is an extended piece of writing developing inquiry, independent study skills and research skills
TOK develops the skill of critical analysis

24. Entry to Higher Education in the UK
Accepted by all universities
UCAS tariff points
HEI very positive attitude to DP applicants
Higher offer rate than A level
HEFCE equivalence 34 points = ABB
Some examples of offers this year:
Oxford, English 38 +
Kings College London, Medicine 35 + HL
Exeter, Spanish & Russian 34
Leicester, Physics 32 + HL
Aberystwyth, Geography 26
Greenwich, Games Computing 24

25. 20 most popular IB Universities
2012
2013
The University of Edinburgh
1999
2044
University College London
1833
1919
University of Exeter
1270
1606
The University of Warwick
1369
1337
University of Bristol
1096
1316
King's College London
1139
1247
The University of Nottingham
1311
1226
Durham University
1207
1223
LSE: London Sch of Economics
922
1054
The University of Kent
962
1039
The University of Manchester
939
987
Oxford University
916
938
University of Bath
827
935
Queen Mary, University of London
755
925
University of St Andrews
838
874
University of Southampton
888
843
Imperial College London
729
738
University of Cambridge
777
735
University of Leeds
785
712
University of Glasgow
526
698
324 HEI in total

26. Offer rates for IB UK students
2013 IB offer rate
2013 all quals offer rate
The University of Edinburgh 58 37
University College London 57 48
University of Exeter 90 81
The University of Warwick 78 64
University of Bristol 68 55
King's College London 72 39
The University of Nottingham 62
Durham University 66 56
LSE: London Sch of Economics 26 24
The University of Kent 99 83
The University of Manchester 84 60
Oxford University 29 25
University of Bath 74
Queen Mary, University of London 82
University of St Andrews 59 44
University of Southampton 87 63
Imperial College London 61 46
University of Cambridge 40 31
University of Leeds 80
University of Glasgow

27. Entry to Higher Education in the USA/Canada
The following universities have accepted IB students from the UK in 2014:
Harvard
Columbia
Rutgers
Duke
Carnegie Mellon
McGill

28. Diploma Myths Diploma students have difficulty getting to HE
Diploma students can’t access medicine courses because they can’t study triple science
If a student fails a subject they fail the Diploma
It’s too hard
It’s only suitable for the most academic students

29. Conclusion Universities value Diploma students as they are : HE ready
Well organised
Well skilled
Rarely ‘fail’
Able to cope with intense courses

30. THANK YOU