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KEFW drops IB option

Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 12:21 pm
by KenR
Interesting Parent's E-Newsletter from the KEFW head this week
International Baccaluareate
It is with considerable regret that The Governors have decided not to admit a new cohort of students onto the International Baccalaureate Diploma programme in September 2013. Recruitment has been low and, in the current context of nationally reduced school budgets and educational reform, it would not be viable to operate an IB course.

We are, of course, fully committeed to the current IB students in the Lower and Upper Sixth. Their course of study will continue as planned with the support, dedication and enthusiasm of our teaching staff. Mrs Swinburne will continue to lead the students as IB co-ordinator and will support them individually and collectively as they move towards the successful completion of their studies.

Re: KEFW drops IB option

Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 3:14 pm
by sbarnes
Recruitment of qualified teachers to teach IB?

Re: KEFW drops IB option

Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 7:33 pm
by JaneEyre
Hi KenR,

Thanks for sharing. That’s interesting.

Personally, from an intellectual point of view, I feel that the IB is a very valuable diploma due to its wide breadth of subjects. It is certainly an incredibly rewarding program! But the fact that the A-levels are still on does hold back its promotion and widespread implementation in England.
Didn’t you mention a few months ago that a famous school had stopped teaching the IB (I can’t remember the name)? May be this trend will get worse? Maybe we should regret it…

That has certainly been very courageous of the former head of FW to try to go down this route while still teaching the A-levels. Then practicality and money matters get in the way and that’s the end of valuable projects… sigh

Re: KEFW drops IB option

Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 9:56 pm
by sbarnes
I think a school in London started a levels in parallel, maybe in wimbledon

Re: KEFW drops IB option

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 7:37 am
by succeed
This does little to engender confidence in the school's leadership. Very hastily introduced then withdrawn before the first set of results made public........?

Re: KEFW drops IB option

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 7:50 am
by sbarnes
How spooky, we had the same conversation on this yesterday. How long was IB offered at KEFW?

Re: KEFW drops IB option

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 9:36 am
by JaneEyre
succeed wrote:This does little to engender confidence in the school's leadership. Very hastily introduced then withdrawn before the first set of results made public........?
There has been a change of headmaster in the meantime... and I also hear from another state grammar school that funds are 'not easy to get from the government', and this lack of funding does hold some projects :( ... or has already obliged another grammar in Birmingham to drop the teaching of Spanish just one or two years ago :( . Sadly, the economic circumstances have an effect on the teaching our children are receiving.
We can't blame anybody for trying too improve options. When I visited FW, I was really really feeling in a 'dream world' and was very impressed by the 'academic endeavour' I could feel there, even if open days do not really give a full understanding of what really happens to our children once they are in a school.

By the way, I don't have a child at FW so I am not particularly publicising this school. We are lucky in Birmingham to have a range of excellent grammar schools, which are all trying to do their best. Even the Defence department is bracing for tight budget, but that's a totally different subject! :wink: