The Diploma Years Programme at Codrington

The Diploma Programme (DP) provides a challenging, internationally focused, broad and balanced educational experience for students aged 16 to 19. Students are required to study six subjects and a curriculum core concurrently over two years. This rigorous programme is designed to equip students with the academic skills needed for university study, further education and their chosen profession. Additionally the programme supports the development of the values and life skills needed to live a fulfilled and purposeful life.

For students planning to enter most European and Commonwealth universities, the IB Diploma is usually the only guarantee for university admission available to international students. For American and Canadian universities, successful participation in IB courses can promote university acceptance, while successful completion of IB exams can lead to university course credit and/or advanced university placement.

The Six Subjects*:

Students study:

• Two modern languages
• A humanities or social science subject
• An experimental science
• Mathematics
• One of the creative arts (but this is not mandatory)

*The school reserves the right to add or delete courses according to student demand and staff availability.

There is also the opportunity to choose an online course such as:

• French Ab Initio (SL)
• Mandarin Ab Initio (SL)
• Digital Society (SL, HL)
• Mathematics (HL)
• Psychology (SL, HL)
• Philosophy (SL)
• Film (SL)

These online courses are provided by Pamoja Education.

The Learner Profile:

Like all IB programmes the learner profile is at the very core of the DP. The DP is committed to the development of students according to the IB learner profile.

The profile’s aims to develop learners who are:

You can read about the IB learner profile in more detail, and watch a video about it below.

http://www.ibo.org/benefits/learner-profile/

Uniqueness:

What makes the DP different from other pre-university education programmes in Barbados?

1.Depth, breadth & balance:

A distinguishing characteristic of the DP is its concern with the whole educational experience of each student. The curriculum framework is designed to ensure that each student is necessarily exposed to a broad and balanced curriculum with real academic depth. The learner profile and the core are positioned at the centre of the programme, reflecting the priority given to affective disposition as well as cognitive development, and a concern with developing competent and active citizens as well as subject specialists. The core requirements of theory of knowledge (TOK), the extended essay and creativity, activity, service (CAS) broaden the educational experience and challenge students to apply their knowledge and understanding in real-life contexts. This core is detailed more below.

2. Our Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills & Approaches to Teaching:

These skills are woven in our units of study by our teachers, affording many opportunities for our students to develop across these invaluable and wide-ranging skills. These skills are not only vital to the development of the whole child but also to prepare our young people for University and college study and/or paid employment.

Our Approaches To Teaching, in that:

We have an inquiry-based curriculum:

• • • • which involves asking open-ended questions
      • that is concept-driven
      • that is contextualized
      • that is collaborative
      • that is informed by assessment, of & for, learning

We seek to create a learning environment, rather than a teaching one:

• • • • promoting education beyond the classroom
      • and defining the role of the teacher as more of a learning facilitator

We teach and espouse academic honesty.

3. Creativity, Action & Service:

Creativity, Action & Service (CAS) is one element of the DP Core; it is included as a “counterbalance’ to the academic rigor of the DP.  It is a programme designed to help students develop their creativity, well-being and commitment to serve the communities in which they live and beyond.

4. The Extended Essay:

The Extended Essay is a further element of the DP Core; students are introduced to and guided in university-level research, culminating in the writing of a 4,000-word essay.  The Extended Essay affords DP students the very special opportunity to conduct independent research or investigation on a topic of real personal interest to the student.

Examples of Extended Essays from Codrington students include:

• To what extent do tourists cause damage to coral reefs in Barbados? 
• To what extent was the use of atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima justified?
• How does the distinction between two key periods of King’s life alter King’s approach to poetry both thematically and structurally?
• To what extent did FC Barcelona’s extended marketing mix contribute to the increase in tickets sales during the 2014-2015 calendar season?
• Is there a relationship between the CaCO3 content of seashells in Barbados compared with seashells in other parts of the world and the pH of the water?

5. Theory of Knowledge (ToK):

Theory of Knowledge (ToK) is the final element of the DP Core; ToK is a foundational course that all DP students take, helping them to explore and understand the problematic and holistic nature of knowledge. Students are taught to seek out knowledge through critical thinking, a fundamental skill for the challenging world that we live in.

DP Administration

Codrington’s DP is managed by the Head of Secondary School, Nicola Leedham and the DP Coordinator, Kirsty Thomas.