Industry News
Private school produces global top grades
Posted on 19th November 2007
A school has been awarded the title of Independent School of the Year by the Sunday Times following the revelation it produced more than ten per cent of the world's recent top scoring pupils in the International Baccalaureate (IB).
The newspaper reports that seven pupils at the Sevenoaks school in Kent achieved the maximum 45 marks in the exams, a feat accomplished by only 65 pupils worldwide.
According to the newspaper, schools offer the IB as it helps universities select the brightest students. It explains that 0.18 per cent of pupils gained top IB marks, compared to 13.8 per cent of those studying A-levels.
Katy Ricks, Sevenoaks' headteacher, told the newspaper: "Top universities love the IB."
Spokesman for the IB organisation in Britain Andrew Bollington said the exam forces pupils to study the areas they are weakest in, rather than allowing them to choose only their best subjects.
The IB organisation claims that the exam offers students more than their results. It claims pupils develop high standards and learning skills, as well as "international mindedness".
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