International Baccalaureate Subjects

Watch the video and read more about English Literature

Our studies in English Literature allow students to analyse and explore complex methods of creating meaning, while fostering a love of reading and knowledge of our literary heritage. Our curriculum consciously seeks to build students’ cultural capital by exploring global issues through the medium of literary texts, thus allowing them to take their place in a multicultural, globalised world.

Watch the videos and read more about French

By studying French at Dane Court, you will develop your ambition and ability to communicate with other people from around the world. Studying a language will broaden your horizons and encourage you to step beyond your familiar surroundings, out of your comfort zone and develop new ways of seeing the world. At Dane Court, students have the opportunity to build these skills in French, Spanish, German and Japanese.

Read more about German

By studying German at Dane Court, you will develop your ambition and ability to communicate with other people from around the world. Studying a language will broaden your horizons and encourage you to step beyond your familiar surroundings, out of your comfort zone and develop new ways of seeing the world. At Dane Court, students have the opportunity to build these skills in French, Spanish, German and Japanese.

Read more about Spanish

By studying Spanish at Dane Court, you will develop your ambition and ability to communicate with other people from around the world. Studying a language will broaden your horizons and encourage you to step beyond your familiar surroundings, out of your comfort zone and develop new ways of seeing the world. At Dane Court, students have the opportunity to build these skills in French, Spanish, German and Japanese.

Read more about ab initio Japanese

By studying Japanese at Dane Court, you will develop your ambition and ability to communicate with other people from around the world. Studying a language will broaden your horizons and encourage you to step beyond your familiar surroundings, out of your comfort zone and develop new ways of seeing the world. At Dane Court, students have the opportunity to build these skills in French, Spanish, German and Japanese..

The IB Economics course forms part of group 3 - individuals and societies.

Economics is an exciting, dynamic subject that allows students to develop an understanding of the complexities and interdependence of economic activities in a rapidly changing world.

By focusing on the six real-world issues through the nine key concepts (scarcity, choice, efficiency, equity, economic well-being, sustainability, change, interdependence and intervention), students of the DP economics course will develop the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes that will encourage them to act responsibly as global citizens, with the foundation to enter a number of different career pathways including Business Consultancy, Investment Banking, Wealth Management, Think Tanks and Advocacy and Politics.

For the internal assessment, both standard level and higher level candidates are required to produce a portfolio of three commentaries based on published extracts from the news media using the key concepts as a lens. In addition, for the external assessment, there are two examinations for standard level students and three examinations at higher level.

Read more about Environmental Systems and Societies

Through studying Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS), students will be provided with an understanding of the complex interrelationships between the environment and people; 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 course also aims to foster an international perspective, awareness of local and global environmental concerns and an understanding of scientific methods.

Watch the video and read more about Geography

Geography is a wide-ranging subject, a synthesis between the sciences, both physical and social, and in itself is integrated and interdisciplinary. Young people take a lively interest in world problems and environmental issues, so Geography helps provide some answers or at least, direct students towards being able to discover an answer for themselves. Geography should enable those studying it to understand and appreciate some of the complexities of the world in which we live. The Department aims to foster an awareness of environment and community: an understanding of people, places and the relationships between them. To equip students with a variety of skills: numerical, written, oral and analytical; to enable pupils to be able to make decisions, solve problems and be aware of the importance of attitudes and values.

The IB Global Politics course forms part of group 3 - individuals and societies. It explores fundamental political concepts such as power, equality, sustainability, and peace in a range of contexts and at a variety of levels.

Global politics draws on a variety of disciplines in the social sciences and humanities. It helps students to understand abstract political concepts by grounding them in real world examples and case studies, and also invites comparison between such examples and case studies to ensure a transnational perspective.

All standard level and higher-level students complete a common core under the central unifying theme of "people, power and politics". This consists of four core units:

Power, sovereignty and international relations

• Human rights

• Development

• Peace and conflict.

All students also undertake an engagement activity through which they study a political issue of interest experientially. Students complement their experiential learning with more theoretical perspectives from research and submit a written report summarising their investigation. Higher-level students also examine two contemporary global political challenges, through a case studies approach.

Watch the video and read more about our History department

In History, pupils will acquire and develop an overview and understanding of the past. Our curriculum will develop skills such as understanding cause and consequence, change and continuity/similarity and difference, reliability and usefulness, and the ability to judge between interpretations. We aim to develop students who are able to respect social, cultural, ethnic and religious diversity; who are able to make progress and have a desire to learn as individuals or as members of a team.

Read more about Philosophy

Philosophy and philosophical questioning forms the basis of all subjects and knowledge. Developing a critical and analytical mindset is vital for students to access truth and understanding in school and the wider world. It is our intent to help students foster a secure knowledge base, from which they can develop a critical and evaluative mind and learn to question their views, others’ views and ‘accepted’ knowledge.

Read more about Psychology

In Psychology, our curriculum aims to inform all students of how humans think and behave from a biological, cognitive and socio-cultural approach. Through an understanding of this, our students will aspire to create a better world by creating dialogue between cultures and forging a sense of unity amongst people.

Read more about Social and Cultural Anthropology

By studying Social and Cultural Anthropology, you will explore what makes us human. You will develop critical thinking skills, a sense of international mindedness and foster an appreciation of the ethical considerations of exploring cultures that are both similar and different to your own. You will become a more open minded, reflective learner with an awareness of the transformative value our actions can have on those around us.

Read more about Biology

Biology informs us as to where we come from, how we continue to interact with the environment, and where our relationship with the environment is going. Through Biology we can aspire to create a better, more sustainable world for our children.

Read more about Chemistry

In the Chemistry Department, we aim to develop students with an enthusiasm for both practical and theoretical aspects of chemistry. Students should complete each stage of the course with the skills, belief and self-motivation required to be successful at the next level.

The IB computer science course is a rigorous and practical problem-solving discipline which sits alongside the other Sciences in Group 4. Features and benefits of the curriculum and assessment of are as follows:

Computational thinking lies at the heart of the course and is integrated with other topics. This is supported by practical activities including programming. Candidates will learn programming skills as a critical element of developing higher-level skills applicable to virtually all fields of study.

Four course options are available; databases, modelling and simulation, web science, object oriented programming. These options will allow a particular subject of interest to be studied.

Algorithmic thinking will be both externally and internally assessed at the level of pseudo-code. This means the external assessment will focus on algorithmic thinking.

Read more about Environmental Systems and Societies

Through studying Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS), students will be provided with an understanding of the complex interrelationships between the environment and people; 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 course also aims to foster an international perspective, awareness of local and global environmental concerns and an understanding of scientific methods.

Watch the video and read more about our Food Science and Technology

In Food Science and Technology, students will learn about the many different aspects of Food as a nutrient, component and ingredient, its safety, quality and place in manufacture. This is a truly fascinating course, and one for this century. We all have a vested interest in food as consumers and as human beings as without it, we would not exist. This course will stimulate your interest in the study of food, from a molecular and microscopic level, through to the development of new products and technologies and wider issues.

Read more about Physics

In Physics, we encourage students to appreciate the Universe and question why things behave the way they do. Students should look to challenge what they think they know and understand through scientific rigor. Physics encompasses the study of the universe from the largest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particles. It is the most basic and fundamental science. We aim to have as many students as possible studying physics or a physics-related subject when they leave Dane Court.

Read more about Mathematics

Mathematics is a core subject of the National Curriculum and we aim to provide students with the skills and opportunities to equip them to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Mathematics is both a tool for solving problems in a wide range of contexts, a development of logical intent and a discipline with its own inherent structure and aesthetic appeal. Our curriculum is designed to develop mathematical and independent thinking skills, aiding in developing an appreciation of how different topics are linked. The courses are rigorous and promote a deeper understanding of concepts that prepare students for the future.

Watch the video and read more about Film

In Film, students will explore the diversity of film across culture and time. They will develop as imaginative, skilled, creators and collaborators and be able to critically reflect on their own creations as filmmakers and reflect on the creations of others. Students will also develop as analytical practitioners of film, with the ability to research, which will contextualise their analysis, ensuring students be able to critically evaluate film as a medium of communication.

Read more about Music

Music enhances learning skills, communication skills, creativity, teamwork, discipline, cultural awareness, respect for others, and self-esteem through personal accomplishment. Students learn how to create their own music, to perform and how to listen, appreciate and analyse sound in all its formats. Music encapsulates every part of the IB learner profile and offers students the chance to express their individuality and creativity through performance, listening and composing.

Read more about Theatre

Theatre is a dynamic, collaborative and live art form. It is a practical subject that encourages discovery through experimentation, the taking of risks and the presentation of ideas to others. It results in the development of both theatre and life skills; the building of confidence, creativity and working collaboratively. It encompasses all aspects of the IB learner profile and encourages you to take yourself out of your comfort zone and to explore world theatre in all of its guises.

Read more about Visual arts

In the Visual arts Department at Dane Court we think about art having to meet our WOW! Ooh.. Aah? Criteria. A high quality of art or design will engage us as viewers and/or users in all three criteria:

• Wow! Our sensual response to art, what grabs our attention? What makes us want to look at it? Issues of formal elements and visual language.

• Ooh.. Technical response, how is it made? The application of skill. Why is this valued?

• Aah? Intellectual response, how does it make us think? What are the concepts behind it? What is the artist trying to achieve?

In our curriculum we teach students the skills, processes and ways of thinking to recognise and understand these qualities in the artistic and designed world and how to apply these skills, processes and ways of thinking to their own work.