It seems clear that the ESF has already decided to become part of the IBO system. It started with Sha Tin College offering the IB Diploma about 5 years ago, and all ESF secondary schools will follow suit from the 2007/8 school year. Now Sha Tin Junior School is leading the way with the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and all primary schools look set to follow.
Renaissance College is the most IB-centric of all - the principal (Peter Kenny) joined direct from the IBO, the Head of the Primary School (Max Muller) has strong IBO connections, and many staff have experience with PYP, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) or the IB Diploma.
This is quite a big change for the ESF, given that for many years it has followed the English National Curriculum leading to GCSE and A-level examinations.
I think there are two main reasons for the switch. The first is that the ESF is rightly trying to be more international, and the second is that A-levels are somewhat discredited.
Back when I took my A-levels the pass rate was fixed at 70% and only 10% got grade A. Now the pass rate is over 95% and and around 23% of candidates get grade A. This has created problems for universities, who have difficulty distinguishing between the best candidates when so many get the top grade (see this from The Independent).
Criticism of the IB Diploma seems mainly be based on the fact that it is more challenging, and that it is not possible to specialise in the same way that you can with A-levels. In fact, the IBO website says that the Diploma programme ensures "breadth of experience in languages, social studies, the experimental sciences and mathematics" and clearly it is meant to be more challenging.
A third concern is whether the IB Diploma is accepted by universities. My understanding is that it is now widely accepted, and it was recently announced that from 2008 it will be part of the offical UCAS Tariff for UK universities. In fact, some universities have expressed a preference for the IB Diploma over A-levels, and there has been talking about the UK adopting something similar to the IB Diploma (I found this story about a UK state school that has dropped A-levels and switched to the IB Diploma)
I cannot comment on any consultation regarding the IB Diploma, but I can say that Sha Tin Junior seems to have done a very thorough job regarding the PYP. Parents, the PTA and the School Council have all been informed about the plan, and there has been some informed debate about the advantages and disadvantages and possible alternatives. In the end, there was strong consensus that this was a good thing, and now the school seems on course to become accredited very quickly.
Of course the switch to the IB Diploma is more complex, because it means dropping A-levels, and some children could lose out as a result of this change. Whilst I don't think anyone would dispute that the IB Diploma is a good choice for the most capable students, it could be a problem for the less able. We also have to remember that (unlike many of the independent schools in the UK that have adopted the IB Diploma) the ESF has no entrance exam and prides itself on being non-selective and catering for all levels of ability. However, having said that, ESF schools do achieve good results and presumably some less academic students leave at 16, so there is a strong argument for challenging the students in years 12 & 13.
Comment: Everything I have read and heard about the IBO makes me believe that the ESF is right to make this change, but clearly not everyone agrees.
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Are there any other parents who have concerns for their children in the hands of ESF? We are curently looking at options because of the move to IB Diploma.
The results for Shatin advertised say 45% gained 35 points and above. What about the 55% below 35? 30 points is an aim for average degree course entry. Engineering 32 Teaching 30 in UK universities.
The other concern is dropout levels. I know of 2 students who have dropped out of Sha Tin College because he IBD does not suit and these students tried and found it too difficult.
Lack of information with regard the ESF Diploma with A level components is also frustrating as we cannot know what they are offering students for whom the IBD is not a suitable post 16 choice. A levels have to be part of post 16 choice to meet the needs of our children.
The most meaningful comparison would be with the A-level results and university places in previous years. I don't know whether Sha Tin College publish that information, but I doubt that they'd go ahead with the IB if the results weren't at least as good.
I agree that the IB Diploma is probably harder than A-levels, but again I wonder what the dropout rate was with A-levels.
I doubt that SC will offer A-levels as well as the IB Diploma.
I speak as a parent whose child has just left Shatin College after completing the Certificate course not the Diploma.
The subject options were very limited for students who are not high academics achievers but still very able students. The Diploma however does not meet UK University entrance requirements.
It certainly appears that no effort was made by ESF on behalf of this layer of students. At least with A levels there was a high degree of certainty that 3 arts subjects could get a student nto a degree programme which suited them with the certificate no-one knows where it fits in.
I think this is a valid concern. The IB Diploma is accepted by UK universities but I doubt that the Certificate would be acceptable. I can't comment on whether this was considered when SC decided to adopt the IB or what strategy they have for children who have difficult with the IB Diploma. Maybe someone can enlighten us?
Most schools world wide that are registered to deliver the IBD offer it alongside the local qualification as a choice.For example the Australian International School in HK offers IBD and the HSC. This enables those who are able and want to accept the challenge to take it whilst offering flexibility to those less academic. This also means that schools may be registered with the IBO but have no candidates entered. Post 16 in Hong Kong we will have little choice but to move our children overseas to give them appropriate education or risk an IB certificate. Perhaps there is a market for a school offering A levels here. A levels are still the qualification taken by the majority of post 16 in UK and elsewhere in the world for entry to university.
I would also be interested in real data from SC about university places and dropout rates. ESF transparency? Remember, some students transfered from SC to KGV to take A levels as recommended by the school because they were not suitable candidates for the IBD.
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