Why the IB? Greenfield Community School

Students in the 21st

century are faced with the challenge of learning about an interconnected world

where knowledge is constantly developing. The International Baccalaureate (IB) programme prepares

students to be active participants in a lifelong journey of learning.

The IB Mission

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.

What is so special about IB programmes?

IB programmes are recognized around the world and ensure an increased adaptability and

mobility for IB students.

The curriculum and pedagogy of IB programmes focus on international perspectives of learning

and teaching, while insisting that students fully explore their home culture and language.

IB World Schools must undergo an exhaustive authorization process in order to offer one or

more of the programmes, which includes a study of the school’s resources and commitment to

the IB mission and philosophy.

IB teachers participate in a wide variety of development opportunities to constantly update

their knowledge and share their expertise with colleagues around the world.

Many students graduating from the Diploma Programme find that it enhances their

opportunities at tertiary institutions. The IB works closely with universities around the world to

gain recognition for IB programmes.

The core components of IB programmes encourage students to participate in creative and

service-oriented activities, while at the same time emphasizing the importance of reflection on a

personal and academic level.

According to Richard Garner, a journalist for the Independent The IB Diploma is a timeless classic, an

icon of educational sense and high standards in a world where educational fashion shifts like hemlines,

and much-needed clarity of thinking is elusive. The IB has never been more necessary. First, it believes in

knowledge, and enables students to acquire it. It believes in the autonomy of subjects and academic

disciplines, but also in their connectivity. It is global in its outlook, truly an education sans frontières.

And it is grounded in fundamental values about culture and character. Visionary and inspiring, the IB can

liberate and motivate the teacher and student. Practical, instructive and aspirational, it is the best

possible preparation for university, for the workplace, and more importantly, for life .

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