IB Diploma Program
Our Upper School will prepare your child for completion of their chosen diploma programme and subsequently for higher education opportunities in both German and English and careers that perhaps don’t yet exist as well as for life in a global environment.
The curriculum offers your child exciting learning experiences on a daily basis. Our students expect challenging topics as well as support in achieving their aims with the help of clearly defined learning goals and coaching. Your child will be encouraged to ask questions, to discover, to research and to learn to think independently. They will learn to take responsibility and communicate effectively. We achieve this by consciously selecting teaching formats and striking an appropriate balance between teacher-centred classrooms, individual work, partner work and group work.
IB Diploma
The IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) at OBS is open to your child if they have reached Sek A or Gymnasium level at the end of Grade 9.
The IB Diploma Programme aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. The programme encourages students to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners.
The IB Diploma Programme is a challenging, internationally focused and well recognised two-year programme of study taken in grades 11 and 12. Your child will be required to enroll in a minimum of six available IB subjects tailored to their interests and skills, whilst taking into consideration subject requirements for their chosen university courses and/or their chosen career paths. Studying three subjects at Higher Level (HL) provides emphasis on chosen disciplines and needed skills whilst the other three subjects are studied at Standard Level (SL) creating a breadth of knowledge and understanding in various disciplines.
Alongside the six Diploma Programme (DP) subjects, the DP Core consisting of CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service), TOK (Theory of Knowledge) and EE (Extended Essay) plays a central and crucial role.
How is CAS structured?
There are three strands of CAS:
- Creativity (the arts, Model United Nations)
- Activity (physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle)
- Service (an unpaid and voluntary exchange that has a learning benefit for your child. The rights, dignity and autonomy of all those involved are respected)
In order to demonstrate these concepts your child will undertake a CAS project which will challenge your child to:
- show initiative
- demonstrate perseverance
- develop skills such as collaboration, problem solving and decision making
CAS is an important counterbalance to the academic pressures of the Diploma Programme.
Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
The TOK programme of study and essay will enable your child to reflect on the nature of knowledge.
Extended Essay (EE)
The EE will enable your child to complete independent research whilst constructing an analytical and theoretical essay.
