International Baccalaureate (IB) Options

Who is this course for?

Biology is the study of living things, right down to a molecular level to look at the very fundamental question of “what is life?” Biology centralises around an understanding of how cells function and interact to create complex life forms, and how those life forms are adapted and fit into a wider environment. Modern technology has allowed greater and greater levels of control and manipulation of this understanding to impact all areas of life from what food you eat to what medical treatments you could receive to advances in biotechnology that could have global consequences. If the 20th century was the century of physics, the 21st is definitely the century of biology.

Course Detail

The biology course covers the following content:

Core Content

1. Cell biology
2. Molecular biology
3. Genetics
4. Ecology
5. Evolution and biodiversity
6. Human physiology

Additional higher level (AHL)

7. Nucleic acids
8. Metabolism, cell respiration and photosynthesis
9. Plant biology
10. Genetics and evolution
11. Animal physiology

Plus an “option” unit on Ecology.

There is also a piece of scientific investigation work which must be designed, conducted and analysed by the student. Full and detailed guidance is given and this covers 20% of the final grade.

Career Opportunities

There are a great many fields open to biology that are obvious (medicine, veterinary science, nursing, dentistry etc) but biological research is a huge and diverse area. You could find yourself in any field of lab based research from looking for new cancer treatments to developing the next generation of food crop to studying climate change or analysing fossils of ancient beasts. Aside from that, any science teaches critical thinking and investigation skills. These are highly sought after in almost any field.

Who is the course for?

The course is designed for study at both Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL). The course considers essential aspects of business, human resource management, finance, marketing, and of the environment in which they operate and it does so in an integrative way. Students are challenged to make decisions appropriate to whole business needs rather than its subsidiary parts. Meeting this challenge will enable students to assimilate the principles of business and management and to become effective participants in local and world affairs.

Course Details

The IB Business and Management course at HIGHER and STANDARD Level requires the study of the following core content:

1. Business organisation & environment
2. Marketing
3. Human resources
4. Operations Management
5. Accounts and finance
6. Business Strategy (HL only)

Career Opportunities

Business and Management is a useful qualification for a wide range of business orientated university courses and careers. The skills developed on the course, such as the ability to analyse and evaluate given situations, will ensure students have acquired valuable skills for application in the business environment.

Who is this course for?

The course is designed for study at both Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL). Studying chemistry after your GCSEs really develops your practical and mathematical skills. If you enjoy experimenting in the lab, you’ll love it.

Chemistry is an experimental science that combines academic study with the acquisition of practical and investigational skills. Chemical principles underpin both the physical environment in which we live and all biological systems.

Chemistry is often a prerequisite for many other courses in higher education, such as medicine, biological science and environmental. The skills developed on the course, such as the ability to analyse and evaluate data will ensure students have acquired valuable skills for application in the wider world.

Course Details

Both IB Chemistry SL and HL require the study of the following core content:

1. Physical chemistry
2. Organic chemistry
3. Inorganic chemistry
4. Practical skills

Career Opportunities

Studying Chemistry at IB or degree level opens up plenty of career opportunities, such as: analytical chemist, chemical engineer, clinical biochemist, pharmacologist, medical doctor, research scientist, toxicologist, environmental consultant and much more.

Who is this course for?

The course is designed for study at both Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL).

Course Details

The IB Economics course at Higher and Standard Level requires the study of the following core content:

The study of economics is essentially about dealing with scarcity, resource allocation and the methods and processes by which choices are made in the satisfaction of human wants. As a dynamic social science, economics uses scientific methodologies that include quantitative and qualitative elements.

The course emphasises the economic theories of microeconomics, which deal with economic variables affecting individuals, firms and markets, and the economic theories of macroeconomics, which deal with economic variables affecting countries, governments and societies.

At both standard level and higher level, candidates are required to study four topics: microeconomics, macroeconomics, international economics and development economics with some sub-topics within these reserved solely

for higher level. These sections are assessed by two examinations at standard level and three examinations at higher level.

In addition to the examinations, candidates must submit an internal assessment. Both standard level and higher level economics students must produce a portfolio of three commentaries based on articles from published news media.

Career Opportunities

As a subject, Economics lends itself to a wide variety of careers and not necessarily those in finance. Some of the career options include:

• Economist
• Chartered accountant
• Investment analyst
• Financial risk analyst
• Management consultant
• Government officer

With an Economics qualification, you can find work in both the public and private sectors for a range of different companies over many different industries. Some people find work in areas including:

• Blue-chip companies
• Charities and voluntary organisations
• Banks and building societies
• Consultancies
• Insurance firms

Who is this course for?

The Language A programme is primarily a pre-university course in language and literature. It is aimed at students who intend to pursue language and/or literature, or related studies at university, as well as at students whose study of language and literature will not continue beyond this level. The programme is designed for study at both Higher and Standard levels. The programme is likely to appeal to students who:

• enjoy reading a range of literary works of different periods, genres, styles and contexts;
• enjoy communicating both orally and in writing and developing their own interpretations of texts;
• want to develop the ability to engage in close, detailed analysis of a range of literary and non-literary texts;
• want to broaden their perspective through the study of works from other cultures and languages.

Course Details

In this course, students study a wide range of literary and non-literary texts in a variety of media. By examining communicative acts across literary form and textual type alongside appropriate secondary readings, students will investigate the nature of language itself and the ways in which it shapes and is influenced by identity and culture. Topics studied include language and power. Texts studied include Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel, ‘Persepolis’, and Arthur Miller’s play, ‘Death of a Salesman’.

Career Opportunities

These skills are highly desirable at University level and this is why English is a respected choice at Sixth Form level. If you study English it will help

you to gain a university place and it complements future studies in the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences and Law.

Students who study English at University level can progress into jobs in publishing, law, advertising, acting, human resources, management in various public and private organisations, teaching and journalism.

Who is this course for?

The English B HL course is designed for candidates with 4-5 years learning experience. The course is holistic in approach and explores themes that promote personal and intellectual growth. It is organized around a clear and consistent inquiry-based structure that will help students to develop cognitive and linguistic abilities. This course has been designed to meet the needs of this new generation of learners. It is in complete alignment with the IB vision to create a collaborative, global community united by a mission to make a better world through education.

The new English B course focuses on learning from a global perspective so that students can increase their understanding of language and culture, which, in turn, can help them to become more globally engaged.

Course Details

The course focuses on five main themes:

Theme 1: Identities

Theme 2: Experiences

Theme 3: Human Ingenuity

Theme 4: Social organization

Theme 5: Sharing the plant

Career Opportunities

English B is accepted by universities as their language entry requirement. It is incredibly rare that English B students are asked by universities to take the IELTS exam. The language skills developed on the course will ensure students have the skills to function well in academic and work environments. In

addition to developing your English language skills to a high level, the English B course adds a further international dimension to your studies as intercultural understanding and appreciation of the Anglophone culture, in particular, is a major feature of the syllabus. The aim is to help you to be more internationally minded and to become a person who recognizes their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet. As an English B learner, you will strive to be: an inquirer, a caring, open-minded thinker, knowledgeable, and a better communicator.

Who is this course for?

Through studying environmental systems and societies (ES&S) students will be provided with a coherent perspective of the interrelationships between environmental systems and societies; one that enables them to adopt an informed personal response to the wide range of pressing environmental issues that they will inevitably come to face.

The teaching approach is such that students are allowed to evaluate the scientific, ethical and socio-political aspects of issues.

Students will be able to study this course successfully with no specific previous knowledge of science or geography. However, as the course aims to foster an international perspective, awareness of local and global environmental concerns and an understanding of the scientific methods, a course that shares these aims would be good preparation.

The course is designed for study at Standard Level (SL). The course provides the students with the tools with which to criticise and evaluate local and global environmental issues. The students learn to use models and other representations of environmental systems, then be able to develop an understanding of the potential influences that any change to a system might have on human development. Both economic, social and environmental consequences of environmental management and change is considered.

Students will learn how to use analytical tools as well as the skills that will enable them to develop their own area of study for their Internal Assessment.

Course Details

During the course, students will study eight different topics. An important aspect of the ES&S course is hands-on work in the laboratory and/or out in the field.

• Modelling Environmental Systems
• Ecosystems and Ecology
• Biodiversity and Conservation
• Water and Aquatic Food Systems and Societies
• Soil Systems, Terrestrial Food Production and Societies
• Atmospheric Systems and Societies
• Climate Change and Energy Production
• Human Systems and Resource Use

Career Opportunities

This course enables an understanding of the complex environmental structures that govern our world. It engenders a need for thought, analysis and reasoned argument. It is the first real IB transdisciplinary course. It explores ethical frameworks that influence global decisions and provides an insight into local issues that represent equally challenging problems and conflicts.

If you wish to study any other subject at University or in further education then this course will provide you with some of the necessary skills and abilities. It bridges geography, economics, politics, law, sciences, sociology and environmental sciences. It will open many different career avenues for you.

Who is this course for?

The language Ab Initio course is a language acquisition course for students with little or no experience of the language.

Course Details

The Ab lnitio course is organised around five main themes which are divided in topics providing the students with opportunities to practise and explore the language as well as to develop intercultural competence.

While some of the topics are similar to those studied for GCSE, please note the focus remains a wider international understanding of the world (with a focus on French-speaking world), leading to students to consider more grown-up questions such as the coloration between technologies and shopping habits.

In addition to their class-based lessons, students will have an additional 25 min session a fortnight with the French assistant, when possible, in order to discuss and develop their understanding of the topics covered in class.

Career Opportunities

The language Ab Initio course achieves a reflection on cultural values and behaviours in different ways. The course is divided into three broad themes, all of which are well suited to fostering an international perspective. The language ab initio course, albeit at a basic level, seeks to develop intercultural understanding and foster a concern for global issues, as well as to raise students’ awareness of their own responsibility at a local level.

In addition, students’ literacy skills are enhanced through the analysis and production of text-types such as articles , interviews speech, etc.

Who is this course for?

French SL (Standard Level) and HL (Higher Level) is a language acquisition course for students with some background in the target language. While developing further linguistically this additional language, students also explore the cultures connected to it such as Senegal, Quebec, Nouvelle Orleans, Haiti, etc.

In addition to their class-based lessons, students will have an additional 25- min session a fortnight with the French assistant in order to discuss and develop their understanding of the topics covered in class.

Course Details

The IB French course at both SL and HL requires the study of the following content:

• Identities
• Experiences
• Human Ingenuity
• Social Organisation
• Sharing the Planet

In addition, Higher level students are expected to study two literary works: they should understand the works in some depth (themes, problematics, etc.) but literary criticism as such is not an objective of the language B course at HL. Reading literature in French is an enjoyable journey into the culture studied. It will help students to broaden their vocabulary and to use language in a more creative manner, contributing to intercultural understanding.

Careers Opportunities

Not only will the French B course be an excellent stepping stone for pursuing French beyond Sixth Form, it adds an international dimension to your studies as intercultural understanding is a major cohesive element of the syllabus.

While learning French, the student becomes aware of the similarities and differences between their own culture(s) and those of the French-speaking culture(s). With this awareness, a greater respect for other peoples and the way in which they lead their lives is fostered.

Who is this course for?

The course is designed for study at both Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL). The course is designed for native speakers of French who will be studying language and literature in French across the French-speaking world.

In this course, students study a wide range of literary and non-literary texts in a variety of media. By examining communicative acts across literary form and textual type alongside appropriate secondary readings, students will investigate the nature of language itself and the ways in which it shapes and is influenced by identity and culture. Approaches to study in the course are meant to be wide ranging and can include literary theory, sociolinguistics, media studies and critical discourse analysis among others.

Course Details

Language A: language and literature is a flexible course that allows teachers to choose works from prescribed lists of authors and to construct a course that suits the particular needs and interests of their students. It is divided into three areas of exploration:

Paper 1: Guided literary analysis

Paper 2: Comparative essay

Individual oral

HL includes an essay

Who is this course for?

Geography is a link between the humanities and the sciences. Because of its cross disciplinary nature it teaches you a whole range of skills that can be used in your continuing academic learning and future careers. These include data collection, manipulation, presentation and analysis, essay writing, reading and interpreting maps, graphs and images, forming and justifying opinions and making formal oral presentations.

Two of the most important issues facing the world today are climate change and globalisation, both geographical. However, many other aspects of the subject are globally important, such as population change, resource management, hazard management, multiculturalism, industrial growth, economic development and much more.

If you study geography you are learning about issues that affect us and the world daily. To appreciate its relevance, watch the news and you will realise that nearly every issue is related to geography in some way. Geography is a multidisciplinary subject that offers you a whole range of choices for future study.

Course Details

The IBDP Geography course covers the following content:

1. Geophysical hazards
2. Leisure, sport and tourism
3. Urban environments (HL only)
4. Changing population
5. Global climate – vulnerability and resilience
6. Global resource consumption and security
7. Power, places and networks (HL only)
8. Human development and diversity (HL only)
9. Global risks and resilience (HL only)

There is also the compulsory internal assessment, which includes writing up an individual investigation.

Career Opportunities

Geography combines well with both arts and science subjects. Geography is a broad-based subject that really fits well with future progression. For example, for careers in sustainability and green issues, urban regeneration, energy supply, retail location, managing the effects of hazards and climate change, geography is an obvious choice. It also provides the transferable skills that allow students to access a broad range of careers including business, IT, tourism, architecture and law.

Who is this course for?

IB German Language A: Language and Literature is a broad-based two-year course designed for native speakers of German studying a wide range of literary and non-literary texts in a variety of media. Approaches to study are meant to be wide ranging and can include literary theory, sociolinguistics, media studies and critical discourse analysis among others.

Course Details

The course develops skills of textual analysis along with a deeper understanding of literature. A study of the formal structures of a text is combined with an exploration into the way the use of text elements and our understanding of their meaning is affected by reading practices that are culturally defined. Students will investigate the nature of language itself and the way it is shaped and influenced by identity and culture. This course can be studied at higher level (HL) and standard level (SL) and will have three areas of exploration:

1. Readers, writers and texts
2. Time and space
3. Intertextuality: connecting texts

Career Opportunities

The course forms an excellent stepping stone into pursuing German beyond Sixth Form. It allows students to sharpen their critical thinking skills, their understanding of any kind of text, their analytical skills and their ability to communicate clearly and accurately. The course also gives them an international outlook and an understanding of a variety of cultural issues.

Who is this course for?

The course is designed for study at both Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL). The course includes a study of Twentieth Century Wars, the Rise and Rule of Single Party Dictatorships and a regional study of about one hundred years of European history.

Course Details

The IB History course at HIGHER and STANDARD Level requires the study of the following core content:

Core Content for Standard Level

Paper 1 – Global expansion in 1930s and 1940s; Germany, Italy & Japan (Documents study and evaluation)

Paper 2 – The origins of the Spanish and Chinese Civil War, Origins of World War One and World War Two; The rise to and consolidation of power of left and right wing dictators from different continents in the twentieth century. (Essay based)

Coursework (IA) 2,200 words based on student choice with school support.

Higher Level is core content as above and Paper 3

Paper 3 (HL) – Russian Empire to USSR 1855-1924; Inter-War Europe 1919- 1938 & European Diplomacy 1871-1923. (Essay based)

Career Opportunities

History is a useful qualification for a wide range of university courses and careers including Law, Politics, Civil Service, etc. The skills developed on the course, such as the ability to critically analyse, cross reference and evaluate research material, will ensure students have acquired valuable skills for application in a diverse range of academic and professional environments.

Who is this course for?

The course is designed for study at both Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL). The course is designed for native speakers of Italian who will be studying language and literature in Italian.

In this course, students study a wide range of literary and non-literary texts in a variety of media. By examining communicative acts across literary form and textual type alongside appropriate secondary readings, students will investigate the nature of language itself and the ways in which it shapes and is influenced by identity and culture. Approaches to study in the course are meant to be wide ranging and can include literary theory, sociolinguistics, media studies and critical discourse analysis among others.

Course Details

Language A: language and literature is a flexible course that allows teachers to choose works from prescribed lists of authors and to construct a course that suits the particular needs and interests of their students. It is divided into three areas of exploration:

• Paper 1: Guided literary analysis
• Paper 2: Comparative essay
• Individual oral
• HL includes an essay

Who is this course for?

The course is designed for study at Standard level. It is for students who wish to develop mathematical knowledge, concepts and principles, logical, critical and creative thinking. They will employ and refine their powers of abstraction and generalisation.

Students are also encouraged to appreciate the international dimensions of mathematics and the multiplicity of its cultural and historical perspectives.

It is intended for students who enjoy developing mathematical arguments, problem solving and exploring real and abstract applications, with and without technology.

Course Details

The IB Mathematics – Analysis and Approaches course requires the study of the following core content:

Core Content Standard Level

• Number and algebra
• Functions
• Geometry and Trigonometry
• Probability and Statistics
• Calculus

Career Opportunities

Analysis and Approaches is a useful qualification for a wide range of university and higher education courses and careers. It has a strong algebraic content and the skills developed will enhance any course.

Who is this course for?

The course is designed for study at Standard level as well as an option to take it at Higher level. The course considers many aspects of Mathematics which are of use both in further study and future careers. It is for students who do not intend to move to careers which use very technical Mathematics.

Course Details

The IB Mathematics – Applications and Interpretation course requires the study of the following core content:

Core Content Standard Level

• Number and algebra
• Functions
• Statistics and Probability
• Geometry and Trigonometry
• Probability and Statistics
• Calculus

Career Opportunities

IB Mathematics – Applications and Interpretation is a useful qualification for a wide range of business, geography and biology based university courses and careers. With its strong statistical content, the skills developed will enhance many university courses and careers in these areas.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for study at both Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL). The course considers essential components of Physics and covers a range of topics in both SL and HL. Students also study an optional topic chosen from: astrophysics; imaging; engineering physics; relativity. Students are challenged to take their existing understanding of the topics and go deeper by considering new implications and situations, and to further develop their laboratory techniques by developing and carrying out a range of practical experiments.

Course Details

The IB Physics course requires the study of the following core content:

Core Content for Standard Level

• Measurement and uncertainties
• Mechanics
• Thermal physics
• Waves
• Electricity and magnetism
• Circular motion and gravitation
• Atomic, nuclear and particle physics
• Energy production

Content for Higher Level

• Wave phenomena
• Fields
• Electromagnetic induction
• Quantum and nuclear physics

Career Opportunities

Physics is a useful qualification for a wide range of science orientated university courses and careers. The problem solving, analytical and evaluative skills developed on this course mixed with the ability to use this for abstract concepts is a sought after skill in many industries. Physics therefore provides an edge for students taking this subject and opens many doors. Career opportunities are not limited but to name a few these could be within: Engineering, renewable energy, medical physics and digital healthcare, robotics and AI, VFX and gaming, finance and law.

What is Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and behaviour. The mind is something intangible that exists within our brain. An unseen process of enzymes, chemicals and electric current moving within the structure of our neural networks dictates why we feel, think and behave the way we do.

But why is it that some people suffer from stress and mental illness? Why do some people fear snakes yet a few think they are cuddly? Psychology looks at questions like these in the study of the human mind and behaviour.

At A Level we look at cutting edge research that has real world applications to issues in everyday life, ranging from things like artificial intelligence to social change.

Course Details

• Biological approach to behaviour
• Cognitive approach to behaviour
• Sociocultural approach to behaviour
• Abnormal Psychology
• Developmental Psychology (HL only)
• Approaches to research
• Internal Assessment

Career Opportunities

Psychology is grounded in the sciences and develops skills such as numeracy, data analysis, research skills and critical thinking. It is a subject that also requires students to develop vital literacy skills such as argument construction, extended writing skills and the ability to evaluate material from different psychological perspectives.

All of these skills are transferable and are sought after by both universities and employers.

The different areas of Psychology are: Health, Clinical, Educational, Academia, Research & Teaching, Occupational, Counselling, Neurological, Sport & Exercise, Forensic.

Who is this course for?

The course is designed for study at both Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL). The course is designed for native speakers of Spanish who will be studying language and literature in Spanish across the Spanish-speaking world.

In this course, students study a wide range of literary and non-literary texts in a variety of media. By examining communicative acts across literary form and textual type alongside appropriate secondary readings, students will investigate the nature of language itself and the ways in which it shapes and is influenced by identity and culture. Approaches to study in the course are meant to be wide ranging and can include literary theory, sociolinguistics, media studies and critical discourse analysis among others.

Course Details

Language A: language and literature is a flexible course that allows teachers to choose works from prescribed lists of authors and to construct a course that suits the particular needs and interests of their students. It is divided into three areas of exploration:

• Readers, writers and texts
• Time and space
• Intertextuality: connecting texts

Who is this course for?

The language Ab lnitio course is a language acquisition course for students with little or no experience of the language.

Course Details

The Ab lnitio course is organised around five main themes which are divided into topics providing the students with opportunities to practise and explore the language as well as to develop intercultural competence.

While some of the topics are similar to those studied for GCSE, please note the focus remains a wider international understanding of the world (with a focus on the Spanish-speaking world), leading students to consider more grown-up questions such as the correlation between technologies and shopping habits.

In addition to their class-based lessons, students will have an additional 25 minutes session once a fortnight with the Spanish Assistant, when possible, in order to discuss and develop their understanding of the topics covered in class.

Who is this course for?

Spanish SL (Standard Level) and HL (Higher Level) is a language acquisition course for students with some background in the target language. While developing further linguistically this additional language, students also explore the cultures connected to it such as South America (Latin) and Spain as well as the expansion of Spanish language in the world.

In addition to their class-based lessons, students will have an additional 25 min session a fortnight with the Spanish assistant in order to discuss and develop their understanding of the topics covered in class.

Course Details

The Spanish B course at both SL and HL requires the study of the following content:

• Identities
• Experiences
• Human Ingenuity
• Social Organisation
• Sharing the Planet

In addition, Higher-level students are expected to study two literary works: they should understand the works in some depth (themes, problematics, etc.) but literary criticism as such is not an objective of the language B course at HL. Reading literature in French is an enjoyable journey into the culture studied. It will help students to broaden their vocabulary and to use language in a more creative manner, contributing to intercultural understanding.

Career Opportunities

Not only will the Spanish B course be an excellent stepping stone for pursuing Spanish beyond Sixth Form, it adds an international dimension to your studies as intercultural understanding is a major cohesive element of the syllabus.

While learning Spanish, the student becomes aware of the similarities and differences between their own culture(s) and those of the Spanish-speaking culture(s). With this awareness, a greater respect for other peoples and the way in which they lead their lives is fostered.

Who is this course for?

The course is designed for pupils with a wide interest in sport. It is perfect for pupils who are looking to complete a degree in Sports. A good understanding of Biology and Sport is a requirement.

Course Details

Sports, exercise and health science (SEHS) explores the science underpinning physical performance and incorporates the disciplines of anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, psychology and nutrition. The course offers a deeper understanding of the issues related to sports, exercise and health in the 21st century and addresses the international dimension and ethics related to both the individual and global context.

Career Opportunities

Sports Management, Physiotherapist, Physical Education teacher, Exercise physiologist, Fitness centre manager, Sports administrator, Sports coach, Sports development officer, Sports Agent, Sports therapist.

Who is this course for?

IB Theatre is for students who would like to explore the subject as creators, designers, directors and performers. It is for students who would like to work both individually and collaboratively as part of an ensemble. It offers the opportunity to engage actively in the creative process, transforming ideas into action as inquisitive and productive artists.

Students experience the course from contrasting artistic perspectives. The course encourages students to appreciate that through the processes of researching, creating, preparing, presenting and critically reflecting on theatre — as participants and audience members — they gain a richer understanding of themselves, their community and the world. It enables students to discover and engage with different forms of theatre across time, place and culture and promotes international-mindedness.

Course Details

• Working with play texts
• Examining world theatre traditions
• Collaboratively creating original theatre
• Creating theatre based on theatre theory (HL only)

Career Opportunities

Theatre Studies offers students the opportunity to develop a full range of transferable skills from literacy through communication to presentational skills and opens up a range of careers including marketing, broadcasting, acting, technical theatre careers, therapy and teaching. Universities accept theatre Studies as an academic entry qualification.

Who is this course for?

The TOK course is part of the IB diploma Core and as such is taken by all diploma students. TOK explores questions about knowledge and the process of knowing. It emphasizes comparisons and connections between areas of knowledge and encourages students to become more aware of their own perspectives and the perspectives of others.

The course encourages students to be curious about, and to think deeply and carefully about, complicated issues. It encourages students to avoid shallow and polarized thinking, and to avoid making quick judgements.

Through their explorations in TOK, students are encouraged to discover and articulate their own views on knowledge. They are encouraged to share their ideas with others, and to listen to and learn from what others think. Through this process of dialogue and discussion, their own understanding is enriched and deepened as they become more engaged with different beliefs, values and experiences, as well as with alternative ways of answering questions.

Course Details

The TOK curriculum is made up of three interconnected parts.

•       The Core Theme – Knowledge and the Knower

This theme encourages students to reflect on themselves as knowers and thinkers, and to consider the different communities of knowers to which we belong.

•       Optional Themes

This element provides an opportunity to take a more in-depth look at two themes which have a significant impact on the world today and play a key role in shaping people’s perspectives and identities. The optional themes currently studied are Knowledge and Religion and Knowledge and Indigenous Societies.

•       Areas of Knowledge

The areas of knowledge are specific branches of knowledge, each of which can be seen to have a distinct nature and sometimes use different methods of gaining knowledge. In TOK, students explore five compulsory areas of knowledge: history; the human sciences; the natural sciences; mathematics; and the arts.

Career Opportunities

Since TOK provides students with the opportunity to think critically and develop greater awareness of their own perspectives and those of others, it equips them with thinking skills that are highly desirable in the work place. It encourages international-mindedness and respect for the ideas of others whilst challenging students to be intellectual risk-takers – traits which any university or employer would find desirable.

Who is this course for?

Students exploring and developing outcomes leading to: visual arts in context, visual arts methods and communicating visual arts

Course Details

Through prescribed activities and independent studies, Students are required to investigate visual arts in context, methods and communicate this by theoretical practice, art-making practice, curatorial practice.

Career Opportunities

Students will gain a broader understanding into the Arts industry for pathways including: Artist, Creative Director, Fashion Arts pathways, Gallery Management & Curation, Foundation courses.