International Baccalaureate Diploma
The International Baccalaureate Diploma is a two-year Level 3 course that students with diverse interests may consider as an excellent alternative to A Levels.
top course highlights
- Small classes
- Field trips and residential
- Excellent lecturers
- Extended essay
- Theory of knowledge
Trips away from campus
IB students have an alternative, bespoke induction where they interact with the whole IB cohort. They also go on a residential trip together and have the opportunity to take trips abroad. You can find out more about our charitable work in Eswatini here.
Committed and enthusiastic staff
The IB programme has been delivered at the College for over two decades and the teaching staff are dedicated to the academic approach of the diploma, with a focus on small, discussion based and interactive classes.
Progression to top universities
The IB Diploma continues to produce excellent outcomes and students regularly progress to the very top universities in the country including Oxford, Cambridge and the Russell Group universities.
WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?
The IB offers a broad curriculum and allows students to keep their options open. If you are inquisitive about the world around you and want to continue to study a wider range of academic subjects than other post-16 options, then the IB may be the right choice for you. The IB offers academic breadth and depth, creates independent learners, cultivates an international mindset and encourages critical thinking. The IB Diploma seeks to develop not only a student’s academic skills but their extracurricular ones too.
The Diploma is an internationally recognised university entry qualification, offered in 159 countries throughout the world. It is fully recognised by all UK universities. Truro College is the only provider of this programme in Cornwall, and it is one of the biggest and most successful in the UK.
WHAT WILL I LEARN?
Students study three subjects at Higher Level (H) and three subjects at Standard Level (S), follow a Theory of Knowledge course which stimulates critical reflection on the knowledge and experience gained inside and outside College, and undertake original research to investigate a topic of special interest and present findings in an extended essay. All students are involved in Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) projects.
WHERE WILL IT TAKE ME?
IB Diploma students from Truro College regularly progress to the very top universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, the Russell Group universities and others. The variety of subjects chosen for university study – from Medicine to International Relations – reflects the diverse range of possibilities available following the IB Diploma.
A variety of methods are used, including both internal and external assessment. Subjects include a written examination at the end of the course and specialised forms of assessment are used as appropriate to the nature of a given course. These range from portfolios of artwork, audio recordings of oral work and fieldwork reports to science practicals and research studies – all reflecting the balance and educational diversity of the IB programme.
The entry requirements are Grade 6 or above in Higher Level choices, at least five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above including English Language or Literature and/or Mathematics at Grade 5. Many IB students will have achieved good GCSE grades in a large number of subjects, however, the most important thing is that students are well-motivated and have the ability to work independently.
Alongside support given from our subject specialist lecturers, we offer 1-1 supervision for the Extended Essay, specific lessons and guidance on TOK and a specialist CAS supervisor, all overseen by the IB Coordinator.
To find out more about studying the IB Diploma, email IB Coordinator Paul Gill at paulgill@truro-penwith.ac.uk
