IB Background

The International Baccalaureate Organisation (IB) is a non-profit educational foundation with European regional offices located in The Hague, Netherlands. The original purpose of the IB was to provide a service to the international community and geographically mobile students by establishing a common curriculum and university entry credential. Because of the balanced curriculum and high standards of assessment, the Diploma Programme now also embraces schools in national systems across the world.

IB Mission Statement

"The International Baccalaureate® aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right." (IB Organization. “Mission.” International Baccalaureate®, ibo.org/about-the-ib/mission/).

The three programmes offered by the IB at ISHR include:

• the Diploma Programme (DP) for students in the final two years of secondary school, commonly between 16 to 19 years
• the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students aged 11 to 16 years
• the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for students aged 3 to 12 years.

The IB Diploma Programme is a demanding two-year course of studies designed for highly motivated secondary school students commonly between the ages of 16 and 19 years.

The programme allows its graduates to fulfil requirements of various national educational systems as the Diploma model incorporates the best elements of several systems.

Representing a common curriculum worldwide, the programme enables internationally mobile students to transfer from one IB school to another and offers a highly respected international curriculum to those who remain closer to home. Its reputation for rigorous assessment gives IB diploma graduates access to the world's leading universities and solid preparation for high achievement once enrolled.

Approximately 140,000 students annually are registered with the IB to complete their final exams in May for the IB Diploma. Approximately 50% of candidates are registered as full Diploma candidates. Of these candidates, only around 0.3% of candidates receive 45 points.