THE IB CAREER-RELATED PROGRAMME

Why did we introduce IB?

We introduced IB at Lomond after a lengthy period of consultation, during which we examined the changing demands of the world and the workplace on our young people. After reviewing feedback from pupils, parents and staff, it was clear that there was an appetite for a curriculum which offered more than just examinations but which developed and officially recognised other skills in a meaningful way. After exploring several different curricula, it was clear that the best fit were the IB Diploma and IB Career related Programmes, which - after a very rigorous Authorisation process with IB - we now offer alongside SQA.

IB is very well researched and resourced and on this page you will find a wealth of resources about the benefits for pupils both whilst they are at school and beyond school too. The IB's main website can be found at: https://www.ibo.org/ but we have hopefully extracted some of the most pertinent and relevant pieces of information for you.

What is the Career-related Programme?

The CP offers pupils at Lomond the unique chance to combine an academic and a vocational pathway, without having to make a binary choice between the two. It is worth noting that we are the only school in the UK offering HNC Business as part of the Career-programme and that this is by far the favoured pre University qualification before embarking on a Business degree. The CP also offers a balance between continuous, open-book assessment and final exams. This pathway particularly suits pupils who don't perhaps perform to their potential under examination pressure, but who thrive in open-book assessments where they have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills - not just their memory.

The CP’s flexible educational framework allows us to meet the needs, backgrounds and contexts of our pupils. CP students engage with a rigorous study programme that genuinely interests them while gaining transferable and lifelong skills through a Career-related Study (CRS). At Lomond, our pupils complete an HNC Business as their CRS. In addition, they will choose up to three DP subjects, and they also complete a four part core which develops them into mature, independent all-rounders and ensures they are ready for University, College or the workplace. Although developed initially as a more vocational option, the reality is that over 80% of CP graduates go on to University - so it is definitely not a 'soft' option. In fact, a CP graduate was recently accepted into the University of Cambridge.

In essence, the CP is suitable for all pupils who wish to engage in career-related learning while gaining transferable and lifelong skills in applied knowledge, critical thinking, communication, and cross-cultural engagement. Even if a pupil does not ultimately wish to pursue a career in Business immediately - or even at all - achieving an HNC level qualification opens so many doors beyond school and can gain direct entry to second year at University. Remember that an HNC is a post-school qualification usually taken at college; at Lomond our pupils have the opportunity to experience this in a supportive school environment which ultimately enables them to steal a march on time and get ahead before they even leave school.

We already have an agreement with Glasgow Caledonian University which will guarantee entry for our CP graduate into four Business related degree courses (the condition is achieving an A grade in the HNC Graded Unit). We are looking forward to developing more partnerships for the future.

Find out more about the CP.

Find out more about the HNC: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/GuideToHNs.pdf

The Career-related Programme curriculum

CP pupils undertake a minimum of two, and maximum of three, IB Diploma Programme (DP) courses, a core consisting of four components and a career-related study.

For CP students, DP courses provide the theoretical underpinning and academic rigour of the programme; the career-related study further supports the programme’s academic strength and provides practical, real-world approaches to learning; and the CP core helps them to develop skills and competencies required for lifelong learning.

This session our pupils have chosen a range of DP subjects alongside their CRS and the Core such as: Economics, Sports Science, English, History, Geography...

Read about the CP curriculum.

Assessment and Exams

The HNC is continually assessed throughout the two years of study, with opportunities to re-sit the different units throughout. There are also 'reading weeks' interspersed, which allows pupils to plan, manage and execute their own learning. This additional time and breathing space is invaluable. HNC is then finally assessed by a piece of work called a Graded Unit - not an examination.

Pupils do take examinations at the end of their IB Diploma Programme courses and these are marked by external IB examiners. It is worth remembering that they will have had two years to grow and develop in their learning before this point. The exams are graded 1-7 with 7 being the top award, and they gain IB points for these exams - and also for elements of the Core - which are entered directly into UCAS just the way that Highers and Advanced Highers would be.

The components of the CP core are assessed by the school.

Find out more about CP assessment and exams.

What does it offer pupils?

The CP develops pupils who:

• have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge

• flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically

• are academically strong

• are skilled in a practical field

• are critical and ethical thinkers

• are self-directed, collaborative

• are resilient and determined, confident and assured

• are ready not just to be accepted to University, but who can 'hit the ground running' and excel once there

Why choose the CP?

The CP helps pupils to prepare for effective participation in life, fostering attitudes and habits of mind that allow them to become lifelong learners and to get involved in learning that develops their capacity and will to make a positive difference.

The programme promotes development of skills, and encourages pupils to take responsibility for their own actions, encouraging high levels of self-esteem through meaningful achievements. We all know that this

A key feature of the CP is that it provides flexibility to allow for local differences. Each school creates its own distinctive version of the CP to meet the needs, backgrounds and contexts of its pupils. Some key benefits are:

• It is a rigorous and challenging programme recognised and highly valued around the world

• It is a two year programme which allows pupils to reach their peak, both academically and in terms of maturity, before the sitting exams which will decide their future

• Internal Assessment features robustly in every subject, which alleviates pressure for pupils and mirrors the University experience

• Up to three DP subjects allows pupils to continue with academic rigour - remember an HL subject is the broad equivalent to beyond Advanced Higher level at SQA

• The Core, and particularly the Reflective Project, ensures pupils arrive at University having been learning in a Higher Education approved style for the previous two years (research and inquiry based, rather than 'spoon feeding')

• The Core gives pupils an edge when applying to University, College or work and adds to their UCAS points

• CP pupils are better able than their peers to self-regulate, to cope with demanding workloads, manage their time and meet the expectations placed on them