Muddy Stilettos

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="560" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Interhigh-screenshot.png" alt="" class="wp-image-71152" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Interhigh-screenshot.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Interhigh-screenshot-600x336.png 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Interhigh-screenshot-900x504.png 900w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>One zoom call, six countries!</figcaption></figure>



You’ve probably heard about the International Baccalaureate (IB) even if you don’t know quite what it is. Taught in over 150+ countries with over 5,000 IB World Schools worldwide, it’s been quietly gaining popularity in the UK over the last few years, with increasing &#8211; though still small &#8211; numbers of schools offering the course which focuses on a wider variety of subjects offered (six versus the three or four at A level) and an international mindset.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Last year (Sept 22) the IB extended its reach further, partnering with leading online school King’s InterHigh to develop the <a href="https://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/">IB Diploma Programme</a> to encourage a more diverse range of students to participate, wherever they happen to be in the world. But is it working? In a conversation that included students all currently taking the IBDP course together but in countries spanning Spain, Canada, Russia, Germany, Italy as well as the UK, here&#8217;s their honest take on their education choices.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-ib-really-does-give-you-a-global-mindset">The IB really does give you a global mindset&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="991" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Martina-InterHigh--991x1000.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-71010" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Martina-InterHigh--991x1000.jpeg 991w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Martina-InterHigh--595x600.jpeg 595w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Martina-InterHigh--520x525.jpeg 520w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Martina-InterHigh-.jpeg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 991px) 100vw, 991px" /><figcaption>Martina </figcaption></figure>



MARTINA, from Spain: Because we’re doing the online IB course at King’s InterHigh we’re from all over the world and we’re all friends. It really opens your mind. If we were in a class at a school in our hometowns, I’m sure life would feel much smaller.&nbsp;&nbsp;



ALINA, from Russia: I think the IB is about changing and improving yourself and the way you study. We have a separate subject that is called Theory of Knowledge that helps us to reflect on how we study our subjects and how we perceive knowledge from the world &#8211; how we engage with different cultures, how we look at different ethical issues from various perspectives coming from various backgrounds and having slightly different values because of our cultures. It’s very beneficial for self-growth. Also, it’s huge benefit of IB that you have the opportunity to enter nearly any university in the world because more than 90 countries accept IB diplomas. I don’t really know where I want to study yet so it helps me keep my options open.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The IB creates smart learners&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="725" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/0-02-05-f87a45a51309102ba0db3fafaea0e67d5aed635e7ec454950bc55f8a0f011e0e_3f07a5a265a25d37.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-71154" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/0-02-05-f87a45a51309102ba0db3fafaea0e67d5aed635e7ec454950bc55f8a0f011e0e_3f07a5a265a25d37.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/0-02-05-f87a45a51309102ba0db3fafaea0e67d5aed635e7ec454950bc55f8a0f011e0e_3f07a5a265a25d37-600x435.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/0-02-05-f87a45a51309102ba0db3fafaea0e67d5aed635e7ec454950bc55f8a0f011e0e_3f07a5a265a25d37-724x525.jpg 724w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Louise </figcaption></figure>



NICO, from Canada: I feel like the IBDP is great preparation for the future – we learn everything from time management and independent thinking to long research papers, so we really know what we’re doing by the time we get to uni. There’s definitely a collegiate feel with the IB generally at King’s InterHigh too – the programme is very challenging, but we’re surrounded by people who actually want you to succeed and value your goals as if they’re theirs. At our school, we try to do anything we can to help and look after each other.&nbsp;&nbsp;



MARTINA: I think the biggest advantage we have as IB students is learning how to research, respond to different questions and find answers. We’re not just memorising text. That’s the most important and most attractive about the IB for me, knowing that I’m learning skills for the real world and thinking for myself.&nbsp;&nbsp;



LOUISE, from Germany: We learn how to learn, which is I think a very important point. I’m not sure whether it’s unique to studying the IB or just the school itself, but the teachers show us evidence-based study techniques and methods and help us to learn effectively. I&#8217;ve never had that in any other school.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="771" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Micol2.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-71230" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Micol2.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Micol2-600x463.jpeg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Micol2-681x525.jpeg 681w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Micol</figcaption></figure>



MICOL, from Italy, living in London: The IB really encourages you to engage with every single aspect of your subjects, it&#8217;s all about being more open-minded and thinking critically within every topic you&#8217;re studying and there are also lots of project opportunities which I love as I enjoy being creative.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The IB works as effectively as A levels for vocational degrees&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="957" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Relaxed-photo-Alina-.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-71151" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Relaxed-photo-Alina-.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Relaxed-photo-Alina--600x574.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Relaxed-photo-Alina--549x525.jpg 549w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Alina </figcaption></figure>



ALINA: I think A levels have a reputation for being the vocational route, but I liked the idea of the IB because I’m thinking about taking up medicine as a degree. With the IB you basically have six subjects you can choose from which means even when thinking vocationally you can still keep your options open. For most medical schools, you need to have Biology, Chemistry, and preferably Maths as higher-level subjects but with the IB you have an opportunity to choose some other subjects that interest you, so for my higher level I&#8217;m studying Chemistry, Biology, Maths and English (because I couldn’t bear to give it up!) but at the same time I’m doing a self-taught Russian Language and Literature course through King’s InterHigh.&nbsp;&nbsp;



GRACE, from the UK, studying in Switzerland: A levels do focus deeper on fewer subjects so if you have a good idea of what you want to study and aren’t interested in more than three or four subjects, then that’s where I’d say maybe think more about A levels over the IB but if you have broader interests then the IB is brilliant.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Be prepared for hard work  </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="859" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WhatsApp-Image-2023-04-13-at-17.56.28.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-71331" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WhatsApp-Image-2023-04-13-at-17.56.28.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WhatsApp-Image-2023-04-13-at-17.56.28-600x515.jpeg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WhatsApp-Image-2023-04-13-at-17.56.28-611x525.jpeg 611w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Defne</figcaption></figure>



MARTINA, from Spain: It was a half good/half bad surprise when I realised the amount of work I had to actually put into the IB! Before I started the course everyone was saying “Oh, you&#8217;ll be in online school, you can cheat, it&#8217;s going be so easy”. But I&#8217;m doing more work than my friends in Spain because of all the IB research and essay writing. I love the work though and I enjoy going to school, which never used to happen. I&#8217;m actually happy on Mondays. You have really to work for this course, but I really enjoy that. 



DEFNE: It is commonly believed that online school is the easy route where you don&#8217;t have to pay attention, but that couldn&#8217;t be more wrong! Since I started I have noticed myself putting in the extra work not only to succeed in school but also to succeed in future uni applications.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">VR + IB = pioneering study&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="995" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/signal-2023-04-18-102950_004-995x1000.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-71155" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/signal-2023-04-18-102950_004-995x1000.jpeg 995w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/signal-2023-04-18-102950_004-597x600.jpeg 597w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/signal-2023-04-18-102950_004-522x525.jpeg 522w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/signal-2023-04-18-102950_004.jpeg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 995px) 100vw, 995px" /><figcaption>Grace</figcaption></figure>



GRACE: Using VR to help us study has been great – we’ve used it in every single subject, but in lots of different ways. For example, we did a VR session in Spanish the other day where we went to a restaurant, and we had to act like servers and customers. So, we had conversations where you&#8217;d say, “I&#8217;d like to eat this hamburger, please” and the waiter would reply, “Okay I&#8217;ll get that to you right away.” It was all in Spanish, so it felt real to be having these conversations about food and interacting with the other students. In Biology we&#8217;ve looked at cells using VR, and we&#8217;ve had some virtual debates in history as well &#8211; last week I was in the virtual Bodleian Library in Oxford having discussions about Nico about King Louis and Alexander the Great and how different or similar their foreign policies and home policies were. So that was cool! It’s been really interesting to use as a learning tool and to be pioneering the use of it in education.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">IB is safer for results than A levels&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="942" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/21668_Alessandro-Capozzi.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-71229" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/21668_Alessandro-Capozzi.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/21668_Alessandro-Capozzi-600x565.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/21668_Alessandro-Capozzi-557x525.jpg 557w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



ALESSANDRO CAPOZZI, head of Sixth Form, King’s InterHigh:&nbsp;&nbsp;



What a lot of people don’t realise is that, when it comes to results, there&#8217;s less of a cliff edge effect with IB. For example, if you&#8217;ve got an offer from university for AAB but you drop a grade and get ABB, you might not be able to go. Whereas with the IB you earn a maximum of seven points in each subject for a single overall total, so a strong performance in one subject can actually lift your points up if you have a poor exam in one of your subject. The IB gives the recognition of where pupils&#8217; strengths lie but has some flex too; it really allows students to thrive and access the world’s top universities.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WIN a &#8216;Gather Together&#8217; hamper from Fortnum &amp; Mason, worth £310!</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fortnum-and-Mason-Gather-Together-hamper-1000x1000.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-71204" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fortnum-and-Mason-Gather-Together-hamper-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fortnum-and-Mason-Gather-Together-hamper-600x600.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fortnum-and-Mason-Gather-Together-hamper-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fortnum-and-Mason-Gather-Together-hamper-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fortnum-and-Mason-Gather-Together-hamper-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fortnum-and-Mason-Gather-Together-hamper-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fortnum-and-Mason-Gather-Together-hamper.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



King&#8217;s InterHigh brings together over 4,000 pupils and teachers from all around the world for its top-tier curriculum &#8211; a bit like this gorgeous hamper that brings together the finest food and drink from Fortnum &amp; Mason&#8217;s famous Food Hall. <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/reader-treats/win-a-fortnum-mason-hamper/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Win it right now in Reader Treats</a>! 



For more information on King’s InterHigh’s online IB course for students 16-19 years old as a challenging alternative to A Levels, head to <a href="https://kingsinterhigh.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">kingsinterhigh.co.uk</a>.&nbsp;

6 things you need to know about the IB – from the teens who are taking it

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