The education system in Australia is not only about covering subject content during class time. In addition to the curriculum — which is mandatory teaching from Kindergarten through to Year 10, with most pupils continuing on to the non-compulsory senior secondary education — there are a large number of extra-curricular initiatives to cater for the interests and needs of a broad range of students.
A small handful of these initiatives include:
- work experience placements to help children and youth develop the skills and knowledge needed in the workplace
- overseas exchange opportunities
- academic excellence programs
- career information classes
- learning support centres
- university pathway programs
- Australian School based Apprenticeships (ASbA).
In addition to the above, Australia also has a number of schools that are either language immersion (where a portion of the Australian Curriculum is undertaken in another language) or offer the International Baccalaureate (IB).
The latter is what we are here to talk about today.
What is the IB? Where can I find an IB school? Why should I be considering the International Baccalaureate in Australia?
What is the International Baccalaureate?
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme was founded in 1968. The founders recognised the need for global understanding and so set about establishing the program with the aim to provide students with the skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly expanding globalised environment.
The first IB school to open was the International School of Geneva, with the first class graduating in September of 1971.
Since then, the International Baccalaureate has expanded, offering four streams, catering for children and youth from the age of 3 to 19 years old, in over 5,500 schools across 160 countries.
What is the IB mission?
The International Baccalaureate website states its mission as:
To develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through education that builds intercultural understanding and respect.
In achieving this goal, the IB is determined to continue to work with educational institutions, governments and international organisations to ensure their courses include challenging international education programs.
The four streams offered in the International Baccalaureate are:
- Primary Years Programme (preschool and primary school, ages 3–12)
- Middle Years Programme (high school, ages 11–16)
- Diploma Programme (senior secondary school or college, ages 16–19)
- Career Related Programme (also for 16 to 19-year-old students).
What Schools in Australia Run the IB Program?
Australia got its first accredited IB school in 1978. Since then, 215 educational institutions around the country have joined International Baccalaureate Australia, with some providing more than one of the streams, as follows:
- Primary Years — 152 schools
- Middle Years — 48 schools
- Diploma — 86 schools
- Career-related — 3 schools.
The following table shows the current breakdown of the number of schools in each Australian state that offer one or more of the IB courses.
| State | Total number of schools | Primary Years Programme | Middle Years Programme | Diploma Programme | Career-related Programme |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory (ACT) | 13 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| New South Wales (NSW) | 36 | 22 | 11 | 21 | 1 |
| Victoria (Vic) | 92 | 69 | 13 | 25 | 0 |
| Queensland (Qld) | 22 | 12 | 2 | 14 | 1 |
| South Australia (SA) | 40 | 29 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| Western Australia (WA) | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Tasmania (Tas) | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Northern Territory (NT) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
The best way to find an IB program near you is to check the International Baccalaureate website, which allows people to filter their searches by country, throughout Australia, a specific state or a particular program.
What Can You Expect in an IB School?
An IB education fosters diversity, curiosity and a healthy appetite for learning.
IBO.org
At every level, studying for an IB is student-centred, with a focus on developing both independent and collaborative skills and global perspectives. While each of the IB streams rests on a solid framework, they also have the flexibility to tailor the education of each student according to culture and context.
What is the IB curriculum?
While the International Baccalaureate in Australia offers a continuum through all four streams, a student can enter at any stage of their schooling.
- Primary Years Programme (PYP)
The PYP focuses on self-driven learning in its delivery of the Australian Curriculum. Each student is considered an agent for their own, as well as others', learning. It is an inquiry-based model of education, setting children and youth up to become motivated and independent learners.
- Middle Years Programme (MYP)
The MYP consists of eight core subject areas — language acquisition, language and literature, individuals and societies, mathematics, science, physical and health education, arts and design.
For the first three years, all of these subjects are studied. In the fourth and fifth years, students narrow their focus and choose six of the subject groups as they move towards targeting their individual needs, interests and future goals.
Every year, students are involved in one collaboratively planned interdisciplinary unit, as well as an independent long-term project.
- Diploma Programme (DP)
The DP course hones in on six subject groups — studies in language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, science, mathematics and arts. There are different aspects within each group, all of which target the three core elements — theory of knowledge, the extended essay and 'creativity, activity, service'.
Each course is available at a higher level or standard level. At least three (but no more than four) units must be taken at the upper level, with the remainder to be studied at the standard level.
- Career-related Programme (CP)
The CP curriculum requires each student to complete two of the DP courses in any subject group, the CP core studies and career-related studies.
The CP core studies involve personal and professional skills, service learning, language development and a reflective project. CP studies are determined by each school to reflect their unique environment and the needs and interests of their students.
What are the Advantages of the IB Program?
Given the focus on student-centred education, many of the benefits involve the development of each child or young person into a motivated, self-driven learner. Key benefits include:
- critical thinking and problem-solving development
- ability to drive their own study and learning
- cultural awareness through second language acquisition
- ability to engage with people throughout the world
- pathways into some of the highest-ranking universities in the world.
Research has also shown that an IB student develops stronger academic, social and emotional characteristics than their peers, often leading to higher results and outcomes overall.
In turn, the skills and knowledge gained through studying for the IB provide excellent preparation for university studies and life beyond school and into the future.
Are There Tutors Trained in the IB Curriculum?
In academic terms, IB studies are rigorous with high expectations. Some are able to manage this but many don't, which is why support from a tutor-led study group or private tuition can be a good idea.
You can, of course, source a regular tutor for specific subjects, like English, mathematics or science. These tutors are effective if you have particular gaps in content knowledge or 'the basics', such as English grammar. In Australia, many children or adolescents who are from a non-English speaking background enrol in an IB school, with many needing support to access the curriculum in English. If they were not born in Australia or only recently moved here, they may not have the background knowledge, particularly in areas such as English literature. General tutors can help with this.
Some tutors also specialise in study skills, exam technique and assessment preparation — particularly useful if the student is fine with the academic content but struggles with the independent study aspects.
Most people, however, will want to find a tutor who works specifically in the IB area. And for good reason.
What is the IB tutor going to provide that general tutors can't?
The most obvious reason people choose an IB tutor over a general tutor is, of course, familiarity with the program and the curriculum. Most IB tutors will have gone through the program themselves and will not only understand the structure but can also empathise with the students regarding the high and low points of study. To put it simply — they 'get it'.
Another reason why you may want to find a specialist IB tutor is the student-centred nature of the study at every level. As mentioned above, learners at every level, but particularly in the Middle Years and Diploma programs (high school and senior secondary school), are required to complete a self-directed project every year. IB classes are the same size as mainstream classes and, as such, the time each teacher can spend individually with each student is minimal. With one-on-one tutoring, however, individualised and focused attention is not an issue.
Many tutoring agencies in Australia advertise IB tuition, particularly at the high school level. If you're looking for an online tutor, with reasonable rates and offering the first lesson for free as a trial, Superprof Australia has a number of tutors who list International Baccalaureate as their focus area. These tutors will often specialise in one or, at most, two of the subject areas, so it is important that you know exactly what it is you need.
Whether or not you need a tutor, Superprof wishes you well in your IB studies.
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