Our Foundation: The IB Programme
ISHR’s curriculum reflects the interconnected world we live in and gives our students a global perspective within their subjects. We offer the full International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum from 3-year-old kindergarten through Grade 12. The inquiry-based Primary Years Programme (PYP) is used in our Primary School (3-year-old kindergarten through Grade 5). Students in Grade 6 – Grade 10 utilize the Middle Years Programme (MYP), in which they develop the skills they need to make connections between their studies and the world around them. Students in Grades 11 and 12 are enrolled in the Diploma Programme, a prestigious and rigorous curriculum that enables our students to become lifelong learners and understand complex multidisciplinary topics.
Early Years Programme
Early Years is the foundation upon which all future schooling builds. Teachers and children build community within their classrooms, a secure place where the children can learn to become part of a group while developing a positive self-identity. Our teachers are particularly skilled at helping children to become independent, to adapt, to become resilient in the face of change, and to develop compassion and tolerance for those whose perspectives and experiences may be different than their own.
Their safety, well-being, and learning are the focal points around which we make decisions. We have developed a rich, responsive curriculum to engage children and a unique facility for learning to take place. Most importantly, we have created a nurturing, caring community to welcome your children.
Our Early Years section comprises three classes of three and four year-olds and two kindergarten classes for the five-six year olds. They follow an authorised and evaluated version of the IB Primary Years Programme.
Our programme aims to:
- Help children make an easy transition from home to school
- Assist children in developing a sensitivity and respect for themselves and an awareness that we are all unique and that this uniqueness should be celebrated
- Foster in the children an appreciation for other nationalities and cultures
- Facilitate exploration of the environment and experimentation with real objects and relevant ideas
- Provide an rich language learning environment in which the language is learned naturally and is used as a tool for communication and learning
- Implement a curriculum that reflects a balance of all areas of learning and reflects the holistic nature of the learning process
- Support and challenge our students in the development of their social, emotional, physical, spiritual and intellectual selves, while acknowledging individual needs and differences
- Promote a love of books and an interest in mathematics
- Build mutually trustful relationships with parents, the child’s primary educators
- Promote a sincere and lifelong love of learning.
Early Years Curriculum Guide
Primary Years Programme
From Grade 1 through Grade 5, ISHR students follow the authorized and evaluated IB Primary Years Programme, which is a child-centered programme of learning through inquiry using a holistic and constructivist approach. It helps our students to develop skills, attitudes and understandings as well as an inquiring mind, which are the foundations for becoming life-long learners and for the acquisition of knowledge in later years.
ISHR provides its students with a cooperative, caring environment in which to learn through a challenging, comprehensive, and engaging curriculum. we are committed to a holistic education which encourages curiosity, independence, reflection and service. In order to be successful, our children need strong skills in thinking, research and self-management and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Ultimately, they must learn to apply their knowledge in a thoughtful and constructive manner.
In the IB PYP, a strong emphasis is placed on how students learn as well as what they learn. Through inquiry-based learning, the children are able to make personal connections and develop their own understanding.
Parents are an integral part of our community and we regard this relationship as a vital partnership. Respectful communication between parents and ISHR staff is the basis of all learning and is evident with the open door policy we have throughout our school, with every adult being a role model for our students at all times.
Primary Curriculum Guide
Middle Years Programme
The Middle Years Programme (MYP) is a dynamic and inclusive educational framework designed for students aged 11 to 16, spanning grades 6-10 at ISHR. It builds on the foundation laid by the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and serves as an excellent preparation for the Diploma Programme (DP). The MYP centers around the student, fostering intellectual, personal, emotional, and social growth. This approach encourages students to become active, internationally-minded learners, equipped with the skills and perspectives needed for global citizenship.
At the heart of the MYP is a commitment to holistic education and intercultural awareness. The curriculum comprises eight diverse subject groups: Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, Arts, Physical and Health Education, and Design. This broad spectrum ensures a well-rounded educational experience, enabling students to develop a conceptual understanding within each subject area. The programme emphasizes the importance of inquiry and encourages students to embody the attributes of the IB Learner Profile, shaping them into successful, rounded, and effective learners.
A unique aspect of the MYP is its focus on real-world applications through global contexts, which provide practical scenarios for students to apply their skills and knowledge, leading to a deeper understanding of themselves and the world. In the final year of the MYP, students engage in a personal project – an independent research task that demonstrates their accumulated learning and skills. Alongside academic pursuits, the MYP places great emphasis on community service and the development of Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills, such as collaboration, communication, and critical thinking, all of which are vital for lifelong learning.
Downloads
Diploma Programme
We currently have over 80 students from Grade 11 to Grade 12 in our IB Diploma Programme, joining a community of over 140 countries world wide. The IB Diploma Programme prepares students for effective participation in a rapidly evolving world, in which learning communities are created where students are able to increase their understanding of both language and culture, helping them to become more globally engaged.
As an IB Continuum school, the IB DP is the culminating experience for students in the IB Programme. It is designed for students aged 16 – 19 years old and is a two year programme, which naturally progresses on from the MYP. During this time, students develop both a breadth and depth of knowledge from the subjects they select, whilst being challenged: physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically.
For more information about the IB Diploma Programme, please see the following:
“What is an IB education?” from the International Baccalaureate on Vimeo
“IB Learner Profile” from the International Baccalaureate on Vimeo
The ISHR High School Diploma
A High School Diploma is a common feature of International Schools across the world. It offers a record of the courses taken by a student within the school from Grades 9 to 12 and his or her academic performance. Each year a student is awarded credits for courses they attend and points for academic achievement.
The High School Diploma is a school leaving certificate accepted as an entrance qualification by colleges in the United States, countries with US-style education systems and colleges of further education who accept international students. This includes many private institutions in Europe. It should be noted, however, that the High School Diploma without a full IB Diploma is not acceptable on its own for entry into a mainstream European University.
HOW IT WORKS
To be awarded a High School Diploma at ISHR a student must:
- Complete four years of education in Grades 9 – 12 or their equivalents.
- Attend school a minimum of 85% of the time.
- Obtain a minimum of 24 academic credits in the four years as follows:
– Language A: 4.0 credits
– Language B: 3.0 credits
– Mathematics and Science: 5.0 credits (min. 2 credits each)
– Humanities: 3.0 credits
– Arts: 2.0 credits
– Electives: 7.0 credits
– Extended Essay (optional extra credit): 1.0 credit - Complete Grade 10 with a minimum of 24 Points (out of 56).
- Complete Grade 11 & 12 with a minimum of 40 Points in two years (20 points/year).
- Complete the Personal Project in Grade 10
- Complete the MYP Service as Action and DP Creativity-Activity-Service requirements.
EXPLANATORY NOTES
- Most ISHR High School Diploma courses last for one full year and are equivalent to a 1.0 credit course. Higher Level subjects in Grades 11 & 12 are 1.33 credits/a year.
- Elective classes can be chosen from any subject category (further Languages, Mathematics, Science, Arts, Humanities, PHE, Theory of Knowledge, Digital Design, etc.)
- Students not taking the IB Diploma who successfully complete the Extended Essay will earn 1.0 credit and 3 points towards their ISHR High School Diploma.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADE 11
Students achieving 20 or less points at the end of grade 11 will be given the option of:
- Transitioning to the High School Diploma with IB courses in their strongest subjects.
- Repeating grade 11, if the Core components of CAS, EE and TOK are meeting the school’s expectations. However, if a student has below 85% attendance and or greater than 20% late marks, they will not be given this opportunity.
- Finding an alternative educational pathway away from ISHR.
Students achieving 21 plus points will transition into grade 11 when the following criteria are met:
- CAS requirements are meeting ISHR’s expectations
- TOK exhibition is completed with a passing grade.
- An extended essay draft of 3500 words (with citations) has been submitted.
- A grade of at least a 2 has been awarded in all subjects.
- The candidate does not have a grade 2 awarded 2 or more times.
- The candidate does not have a grade 3 awarded 3 or more times.
- The candidate has at least 10 points awarded collectively in their HL subjects. (For candidates who register for four HL subjects, the three highest grades count).
- Candidates have at least 9 points on SL subjects.
- ISHR will reserve the right to prevent graduation from grade 11 if there are attendance/punctuality concerns which leads us to believe that a student will not meet the High School Diploma attendance expectations.
- If the IB DP program is causing severe social-emotional problems that require external intervention from medical services, ISHR may, in exceptional circumstances, recommend a sabbatical to prioritize the student’s well-being.
All students will be viewed holistically and where there is evidence to suggest academic performance is being hindered by external factors these will be taken into consideration before a final decision is made about graduation from grade 11.
IB Diploma passing criteria, which students must achieve when the IB release results in July of the final year of the Diploma Programme.
Want to know more?
The IB Programme isn’t only for classrooms. Find out more about how we help our students to get a wholesome education by learning about the world.
CAS Groups
Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS): these activities are at the center of the IB Programme.
Immersive Learning
From our on-campus garden, to outdoor learning activities, to field trips, learning beyond the classroom is an essential component of an ISHR education.
