Sending your child to school in Singapore and don't know what an IB accredited World Schools actually is? Here's all you need to know
IB, PYP, MYP, DP – as parents, we rattle off Singapore’s education acronyms, but how much do we really understand them? The question often arises: are all IB Schools in Singapore the same? How can they differ if they are all accredited by one organization? And how can they maintain consistency?
Our education partners at JSJ Consulting have provided us with insight as to why no two IB World Schools are ever the same.
Are IB schools the same?
The IB is a curriculum framework – not a curriculum. IB accredited World Schools are rigorously evaluated and finally authorized by the IB, but they do not have to offer all three (PYP, MYP, and DP) programmes. They do, however, have to uphold the IB mission and philosophy to learning, ensuring their educational resources support this mission. IB teachers must participate in a wide variety of professional development exercises, and share their expertise with colleagues around the world. An IB accreditation is not an easy one to receive or to maintain.
The teaching philosophy across IB schools should be the same, but ultimately academic content and strengths in curriculum may differ. The German European School Singapore is well reputed for its strength in languages. Canadian International School recently launched a series of “themed walls” across both its campuses. These new walls represent a bold new move in engaging audiences through the use of Aurasma technology and interactive displays, while at the same time celebrating learning visually and communicating the CIS ethos.
ISS International School Singapore is one of the few schools in Singapore offering the full IB Programme from PYP to DP. Others begin with the PYP and then follow a National Curriculum from Grade 6 in preparation for the IGCSE’s, but the majority of schools in Singapore today offer the final Diploma Program. Tanglin Trust School being one of the latest to jump on the IB band wagon, now offers the Diploma Program as well as the British A Levels. United World College of South East Asia made a brave move last year announcing it was stepping away from the PYP but still offers an inquiry-based approach to learning in the infant and junior school guided by the UWCSEA profile and learning principles.
There is no doubt the IB programmes offer a forward thinking, positive learning approach, with the IB DP holding pole position as one of the most academically rigorous pre-university programmes to undertake.
This article was contributed by HoneyKids education partner JSJ Consulting. JSJ Consulting provides international school placement advice for families relocating to or residing in Singapore.