Baccalaureates ‘are better all round’ (From The Argus)

Sussex students celebrate International Baccalaureate success

12:20pm Saturday 7th July 2012 in News By Bill Gardner

Students taking the International Baccalaureate leave school with “a better skill set”, according to a top Sussex school.

Dr Sean McEvoy, IB coordinator at Varndean College, said the qualification gave pupils a “better all-round education” than A-Levels as their results were announced yesterday (July 6).

Students take six subjects – three at higher level and three at standard level.

Pupils also have to write a 4,000 word extended essay and do 50 hours work in “creativity, action and service”.

Yesterday, schools across Sussex celebrated as the results from the demanding course were published.

The 42 baccalaureate students at Varndean College achieved some of the best results in the country, with nearly six out of ten achieving top grades.

Three students achieved 44 out of a maximum 45 points, putting them in the top 0.25% of 55,000 candidates worldwide.

Alfie Cheesman is going to read history at Cambridge, Will Manifold will take a degree in natural sciences at Durham and Rebekah Morris will study medicine at Exeter.

'Better all round'

Dr McEvoy said: “I think it’s a better all round education but it’s quite hard and it’s not for everybody.

“A-Levels are more about passing tests and ticking boxes but the IB is about learning for its own sake.

“You acquire a much better skill set and all-round education.”

Students at Ardingly College achieved an average point score of 35 points, five points above the worldwide average.

Top of the class was Olivia Homewood, who scored 44 points which places her in the top 0.45% worldwide.

Jamie Large, director of studies at the college, said: “The IB is an amazing way to prepare students for the academic demands of university and life beyond.

“These students join a global IB network welcomed by universities and employers throughout the UK and around the world.”

At Worth School in Crawley, students achieved an average IB point score of 36.5, well above all previous years.

Top-scoring student Maria Paddenberg achieved 43 points and was one of the 37% of students who gained 40 points or more.

Headmaster, Gino Carminati, said: “Our experience of delivering this qualification over the last ten years has shone through.”