In 2008, every state government in Australia agreed that a national curriculum was needed for students from Foundation through to Year 10. Up until this point, each state had its own education department and determined its own curriculum — resulting in a lack of consistency across Australia and making it difficult when students needed to move from one state education system to another.
The goal of the Australian Curriculum is to adhere to national standards and improve learning outcomes for every young Australian, regardless of where they live in Australia or their background.
Subject knowledge, skills and achievement standards are outlined in the eight learning areas of the Australian Curriculum: English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Health and Physical Education, The Arts, Technologies and Languages. Primary and secondary schools are able to use the curriculum flexibly, in alignment with state policies and in order to develop programs of learning that meet the educational needs of their students.
So, what does this have to do with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme?
Like every alternative educational program in Australia, such as those taught by Islamic schools, French immersion schools, Montessori schools and Steiner schools, IB schools must show that they are adhering to the Australian Curriculum and the national standards of education.
What is the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme?
Previously known as the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), and founded in 1968 in Geneva, Switzerland, the IB Diploma Programme is an internationally recognised educational program that caters for young people from the age of 3 through to 19 years — primary school through to the completion of senior secondary school.
As the IBO, there was only one program of study available — the Diploma Programme. However, over the years, additional programs have been introduced and there are now four courses available in an educational continuum:
- Primary Years Programme (PYP) for students 3 to 12 years of age
- Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students 11 to 16 years of age
- Diploma Programme (DP) for students in Year 11 and Year 12, or 16 to 19-year-olds
- Career-related Programme (CP) as an alternative to the DP.
What are the benefits of studying the IB?
The IBO website lists all of the benefits of each of the IB programmes, which you can read at your leisure — but what do the students say?
Arabella, from Sydney (NSW), started her IB journey with the PYP as a 3-year-old in pre-Kindergarten:
The skills I have developed during my time with the PYP, and now having progressed to the MYP, include being enthusiastic, focused and disciplined in my studies, research and inquiries.
Anna-Sophia, from Kew (Vic), completed the Diploma Programme and currently works as an international pilot based out of Hong Kong. She lists diversity and breadth as the key benefits of the IB curriculum:
Upon completing my IB diploma studies, almost every university course was available for continued study and provided the perfect springboard for engaging in the global community.
Jeanette, from Melbourne (Vic), graduated from the IB DP in 2016 and is currently in her third year of a Bachelor of Commerce degree. She chose to enrol in the DP because of its reputation as a challenging course and for the ability to study more subjects at a higher level:
One of the reasons I admire the DP so much is the weight it gives to CAS (creativity, activity, service) — it places importance on doing good in our community and making an impact.
Holly, from the UK, ended up transferring from her elite Grammar School to one of her local public IB schools to pursue the Career-related Programme:
The CP opened my eyes to the number of opportunities that are out there and made me realise that university wasn’t my only option. I am a practical learner, so an apprenticeship is best suited to me, and I am really excited to be able to gain so many new skills. I will be able to use the skills that I learned while studying for the IB CP in my new job role. I loved that you can study vocational subjects and academic subjects, so it leaves you with different options for the future. You don’t have to go to university, or you don’t have to go into the workplace.
What schools offer the International Baccalaureate?
Around the world, there are over 5,000 IB schools in 160 countries, including Hong Kong, UK, USA, Singapore, India, China, Japan, Spain, Canada, New Zealand, Kenya, Turkey and, of course, Australia.
Australia boasts over 200 IB schools, with at least one school in every state and territory. Some schools offer more than one of the IB programs, with the overall number of programs offered as follows:
- Primary (PYP) — 152
- Middle (MYP) — 48
- Diploma (DP) — 86
- Career (CP) — 3
A complete list of Australian IB schools can be found on the IBO website as well through your state education department website.
What Does the IB Curriculum Cover?
As mentioned previously, the IB curriculum must align with the outcomes of the Australian Curriculum. That being said, the emphasis on certain subjects and life skills is different and is what sets the International Baccalaureate courses apart from mainstream Australian education.
PYP course overview
The Primary Years IB framework consists of three pillars:
- The Learner — outcomes for students, set by the PYP and by the students
- Learning and Teaching — distinctive features of learning and how to best support student learning needs
- Learning Community — social outcomes and the role of community.
Primary level students navigate the subjects in the Australian Curriculum based on the above framework pillars. The emphasis is on student inquiry, questioning and the exploration of wonder. In their final year, every student takes part in the PYP Exhibition — an opportunity for students to showcase their understanding of an issue of personal significance.
MYP course overview
The Middle Years IB framework covers eight subject groups:
- Language acquisition
- Language and literature
- Individuals and societies
- Science
- Mathematics
- Arts
- Physical and health education
- Design.
Each of the subject groups adheres to the national standards but also allows for self-directed study and learning. Set courses are offered, but additional courses of study are also developed to meet individual interests.
In addition to community service and activities, students are also involved in an interdisciplinary unit every year as well as a long-term project in their senior years.
DP course overview
The Diploma Programme framework includes six subject groups:
- Studies in language and literature
- Language acquisition
- Individuals and societies
- Mathematics
- Science
- Arts.
Each subject group contains a wide range of courses that revolve around the three core elements:
- Theory of knowledge — reflections on knowledge and how it is attained
- The extended essay — self-directed research including a 4,000 word essay
- Creativity, activity, service — a self-directed project encompassing those three areas.
Senior secondary students undertake this IB program with a view to preparing for further university study.
CP course overview
An alternative to the DP, the CP curriculum is oriented toward career and the knowledge and skills that will prepare participants for apprenticeships or entering the workforce.
The course consists of:
- two subjects from the Diploma Programme
- Personal and professional skills
- Service learning
- Reflective project
- Language development
- Career studies (with a recognised provider).
The career studies are often self-directed and are specific to the IB school and its location.
Is an IB Tutor Recommended?
An IB tutor is recommended for any IB student who needs help, whether with core subject concepts, study skills, essay techniques or preparation for assessment tasks and exams.
You can, of course, engage a tutor who is a specialist in your required subject area, such as mathematics, physics or English literature or grammar; however, you may prefer a tutor who has direct experience with the IB program at the level you are studying.
Every IB tutor is an expert in their particular subject field, so if you need help across a few different subjects, you may need to end up working with different tutors. Alternatively, if you are okay with the academic content, but not so great with your time management, essay writing or study and revision strategies, a tutor who is familiar with the IB teaching and learning framework will be your best choice.
Engaging a tutor when you know you are starting to struggle is not the mark of a poor student. In fact, a student who is aware of their capabilities and limitations, and who knows when and how to seek support, is more likely to succeed.
Remember, too, that tutors are not only for the student who is struggling. If you feel you can achieve more and want to be challenged and extended in your study, an IB tutor would be perfect.
You will find tutors on the Superprof platform who list IB as one of their specialities in their profile. Browse through and book in for a free session to find out if a tutor will meet your particular educational requirements.
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