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Independent school head speaks of IB benefits

Posted on 23rd October 2008

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The International Baccalaureate (IB) equips students better for future opportunities, a private school head has suggested.

Principal of Southbank International Schools' Westminster campus Terry Hedger told the Independent that it is possible to detect an IB graduate "later in life".

Southbank was the first British school to offer the qualification at all three levels.

Mr Hedger added that those who have studied the IB "have an amazing level of confidence and ease with people and they can operate in different cultures".

And he suggested that despite the government website claiming that the qualification is suitable for "highly motivated students", it can actually boost academic opportunities for students of all abilities.

There are expected to be 300 or more schools offering the IB by 2010, up from 84 in 2006, chair of the Association for IB schools and colleges in the UK and Ireland Tony Smith told the paper.

IB students are often better prepared for university, a recent ACS International Schools survey found.