The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme
An academically challenging, stimulating and inspiring programme of education
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is an academically-challenging and balanced programme of education that works to develop students who live, learn and work in a rapidly changing world.
With a focus on independent thinking, academic rigour, community service, inter-cultural understanding and respect for others, the Programme prepares students for success at university and beyond.
Our teaching and learning philosophy is to encourage learners who are open to challenge, willing to develop their abilities and achieve their personal best, take risks and accept mistakes, make ethical decisions and enjoy learning.
This vision complements the IB Diploma programme which aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, open-minded, reflective, caring and principled young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through effective communication, intercultural understanding and respect.
The IB Learner Profile underpins the programme and ensures the development of the whole person. Our student success rate for the IB diploma was 100% in 2024. Students also often engage in Creativity, Activity, and Service projects as part of their experiential learning process.
- Provides students a careful balance of subject breadth and depth
- Addresses the nature of knowledge across disciplines through the unique Theory of Knowledge course
- Encourages international-mindedness, including a foundation in the student’s first language and culture and in a second language
- Develops a positive attitude to learning that prepares students for university education
- Offers a strong reputation for its rigorous external assessment with published global standards, this qualification is welcomed by universities worldwide.
- Emphasises the development of the whole student – physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically
- All Year 12 students who meet the entry requirements can enter. It is not limited to students who achieve highly
- It is taught over two years with final examinations held at the end of Year 13. Students can also take NZQA scholarship exams
- The students select one subject from each of the six subject groups, with some variation possible, within these choices: Studies in Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, The Arts
- Three subjects are studied at a higher level and the remainder are studied at a standard level. While both are two-year courses, higher level has more content and requires deeper thinking.
- Each subject includes at least 20% internal assessment
The IB Diploma Programme comprises three important additional compulsory components:
1. Extended Essay
The extended essay of some 4,000 words offers the opportunity for IB students to investigate a topic of special interest, usually one of the student’s six Diploma Programme subjects, and acquaints them with the independent research and writing skills expected at university.
2. Theory of Knowledge
Theory of Knowledge has an emphasis on the development of critical thinking skills, encouraging students to be aware of subjective biases and to develop the ability to analyse evidence. This is a key element in encouraging students to appreciate other perspectives.
3. CAS (Creativity, activity, service)
Creativity, activity, service is at the heart of the Diploma Programme, involving students in a range of activities that take place alongside their academic studies throughout the IB Diploma Programme.
Where are our IB Diploma graduates now?
The IB Dux for 2024 is Lucy Kilgour & Amelia McIntosh
Lucy has completed her 2 years of the IB Diploma with outstanding results across her six subjects. She works hard but also with a real passion for learning that means she shows great joy in the daily accomplishments of the programme. One teacher described her as having “lofty goals and working with a laser focus to achieve them”. Lucy is a principled critical thinker, who demonstrates a solid ethical foundation in her approach to learning and problem-solving. This is demonstrated in her CAS projects where she developed a crochet club and volunteered at the “Everybody Eats” organisation. Lucy has not let the demands of her academic programme stand in the way of a wider commitment to the school, especially in debating, mooting, underwater Hockey and the Ethics Council. Lucy is heading to the University of Auckland to start a BCom/LLB.
Congratulations Lucy on winning the joint IB Dux Award for 2024.
Amelia has had an outstanding 2 years in the Diploma programme always approaching her work with an open mind and a positive attitude. Amelia has been a key contributor to all her classes where her insightful contributions enhance the level of discussion, and she fosters a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere. A key part of the Diploma Programme is the Theory of Knowledge or TOK. Her TOK teacher noted that she is the perfect TOK student – constantly asking questions that challenge her own preconceptions of the world. Her natural curiosity has benefitted her across all her subjects. Amelia has been a valuable contributor to the co-curricular life of the school, particularly in Orienteering, and as the Deputy Head of the Academic Council.
Amelia is going to Canterbury University to study to Engineering.
Congratulations Amelia on winning the joint IB Dux Award for 2024.
This is awarded to a student in Year 13, who, throughout the two years of the Diploma, has consistently demonstrated the attributes of the IB Learner Profile.
The IB Learner Profile can be considered as a map of a lifelong journey in pursuit of international-mindedness. It aims to develop active, compassionate and lifelong learners and to prepare students to make exceptional contributions both at school and beyond.
The IB mission is to encourage students to be Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled, Open-minded, Caring, Risk-takers, Balanced, and Reflective, thus educating the whole person for a life of active, responsible citizenship.
The recipient of this award is: Amelia McIntosh
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