The Secondary School, for students aged 11-19, seeks to build an inquiring, knowledgeable and caring community of learners. Based around the ethos of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) and the IB Learner Profile, the school actively fosters a wide range of learning dispositions. The programmes we offer - the IB Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) and IB Diploma Programme (IB DP) - are structured to encourage independent learning, and to prepare all of our students for lifelong learning. These programmes succeed the IB Primary Years programme and thus complete an IB learning continuum that begins in the Early Learning Centre.

The Academic Programme

The academic programme in the Secondary School at ISBerne is organised as follows:
Grades 6 - 10:      International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB MYP).
Grades 11 - 12:    International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP), leading to the IB Diploma.
                         In addition, students graduate with an ISBerne High School Diploma.

Students in Grades 6 - 10 complete courses including English, mathematics, French, German, integrated science (biology, chemistry, physics), integrated humanities (history, geography), art, drama, music, technology, physical education, and personal and social education (PSE).
Students in Grades 11 - 12 complete the internationally recognised International Baccalaureate Diploma programme, leading to the IB Diploma or IB Certificates, and/or the ISBerne High School Diploma.

ISBerne currently offers the following IB courses at both Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL):

Additionally, all Diploma candidates in Grades 11 & 12 complete the IB Theory of Knowledge programme, the IB Creativity, Action & Service (CAS) programme, an IB Extended Essay (a 4000-word research paper), and the school's Personal and Social Education course (PSE). All students must satisfy the Service portion of CAS to receive an ISBerne Diploma. Certificate candidates do not normally complete the ToK programme or Extended Essay.

The Extra-Curricular Programme

The school offers a range of extra-curricular activities, including Model United Nations, Student Council, drama, choir, French Magazine Club, Latin, Climate Action Club, Board Games, Library Club and sports (e.g. volleyball, basketball, soccer, uni-hockey).

Grading

The school year runs from August to June and is divided into two semesters, with attainment marks being awarded at the end of each semester. Students are assessed using the International Baccalaureate grade scale, 7 (high) - 1 (low), as explained below. Due to the diversity of educational backgrounds the school neither provides class rank nor calculates grade point averages. There are no weighted grades.

 

 

SAT Scores

ISBerne averages:
Aug. 2006 - June 2007 (6 students): Critical Reading: 603 Math: 613 Writing: 573
Aug. 2007 - June 2008 (5 students): Critical Reading: 522 Math: 566 Writing: 506
Aug. 2008 - June 2009 (4 students): Critical Reading: 462 Math: 510 Writing: 492
Please note that ISBerne does not offer SAT preparation courses.

College and University acceptance

Each year there is a graduating class of approximately 20 students and of these students 90% will go on to a college or university somewhere in the world. Those bound for the United States attend 4-year colleges and universities. Below is a list of some of the universities and colleges to which students from ISBerne have been offered admission in the last three years.

Europe: Aberystwyth University, Bristol University, Cambridge University, City University, Delft University, Essex University, European Business School (London), Glasgow University, Goldsmiths College (London), Imperial College London, John Cabot University (Rome), Kings College London, Leeds University, Liverpool University, Rome University, Royal Holloway London, SOAS London, Sheffield University, Southampton University, Tübingen University, University of Art and Design Lausanne, University of Wales, Vesalius College, Warwick University, Webster University.

North America: American University, George Mason University, Guelph University, McGill University, McMaster University, Northeastern University, Providence College, Purdue University, Queens University, Simon Fraser University, Syracuse University, Toronto University, Waterloo University, York University.

Rest of the World: Atenio de Manila University, Auckland University, ITESM Technical University, Seoul