About the IB

Founded in 1968, the International Baccalaureate® (IB) is a non-profit educational foundation offering four highly respected programmes of international education that develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills needed to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world.

For the official website for the International Baccalaureate (formerly the International Baccalaureate Organization) please go to: www.ibo.org

 

What is IB Schools Australasia?

As an Association of International Baccalaureate® (IB) World Schools, IB Schools Australasia is the association of IB schools within Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

As an Association of International Baccalaureate® World Schools, IB Schools Australasia has been formerly recognised by the IB and works closely with the IB to advocate on behalf of our member schools.

Today the association remains committed to the original purpose. Its goals are:

  • To promote the IB programs and support IB schools within Australasia 

  • To provide professional support for teachers and schools in areas not covered by the IB 
  • To liaise with the IBAP Regional Office in matters affecting the interest of IB Schools in 
Australasia 

  • To support the IB in promoting its programs in the Australasian region 

  • To advocate for IB programs with government and educational agencies/organisations in 
Australasia 


Joining the Association of IB Schools can be an indispensable resource for both schools new to the IB, as well as established schools.

Our association is an independent entity that is not run or managed by the IB, however, we have a formal Memorandum of Understanding with the IB.

What are the PYP, MYP, DP and CP Programmes?

For students aged 3-19. IB programmes challenge students to excel in their studies, and encourage both personal and academic achievement.

The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) for children aged 3 - 12 nurtures and develops young students as caring, active participants in a lifelong journey of learning.

Taught in over 109 countries around the world, the PYP curriculum framework is uniquely adaptable to state and national standards. Guided by six transdisciplinary themes of global significance, students deepen their learning by developing their conceptual understandings; strengthening their knowledge and skills across and beyond subject areas.

Learn more about the PYP

PYP Key Findings - This resource provides an overview of key findings from recent studies relating to the PYP, including PYP's impact on school climate, and student well-being in PYP schools.

The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) is for students aged 11-16.

The MYP is a challenging framework that encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world.

The MYP is a five-year programme, which can be implemented in a partnership between schools, or in several abbreviated (two, three or four year) formats. Students who complete the MYP are well-prepared to undertake the IB Diploma Programme (DP) or Career-related Programme (CP).

Find out more about the MYP.

MYP Key Findings - The findings below come from IB-commissioned research relating to the MYP. Studies highlight a number of outcomes, including: the skills fostered through the MYP, non-scholastic outcomes of the programme and the academic achievement of MYP students.

The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) is for students aged 16-19.

Research suggests that there are many benefits to choosing the DP. The programme aims to develop students who have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge – students who flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically.

The DP curriculum is made up of six subject groups and the DP core, comprising theory of knowledge (TOK), creativity, activity, service (CAS) and the extended essay.

Through the DP core, students reflect on the nature of knowledge, complete independent research and undertake a project that often involves community service.

Find out more about the DP, including information on pathways to university and employment and on who can offer the programme.

DP Core Key Findings- This resource provides a brief overview of key findings from recent research on the DP core, which includes theory of knowledge (TOK), the extended essay and creativity, activity, service (CAS).

DP Key Findings - The below findings come from IB-commissioned studies on the Diploma Programme (DP), relating to three key themes: competencies and skills, equity and access, and higher education outcomes.

How does the IB compare to the HSC? Here is a helpful article that explains the structure of the IB Diploma Programme and one of Australia's State based curriculums: the HSC.

The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Career-related Programme (CP) is designed for students aged 16-19.

The CP is a framework of international education that incorporates the values of the IB into a unique programme addressing the needs of students engaged in career-related education.

The programme leads to further/higher education, apprenticeships or employment.

Find out more about the CP.

 

Why are there some schools listed on your website that aren’t listed at www.ibo.org?

Our member schools comprise of both:

  • Full Member Schools (IB World Schools) and
  • Associate Member Schools (candidate schools in the authorization process). 

Where a school is a candidate to offer an IB programme, this is listed on the individual school page on our website.

 

Why aren’t all IB World Schools in Australasia listed on www.ibaustralasia.org?

IB Schools Australasia is our local association of IB World Schools.  We welcome membership from both Authorised IB World Schools (Full Member Schools) and schools witin the Candidate phase (Associate Member Schools).

We profile both our Full Member Schools and Associate member schools on our website.  Membership is completely voluntary and at present, not all IB World Schools within our region are members of our association.  For a complete list of IB World Schools please visit: http://www.ibo.org/programmes/find-an-ib-school/

 

How can my School become an IB World School?

In order to offer one or more International Baccalaureate® (IB) programmes of education, schools must complete an authorization process with the IB. Once authorized, they are known as an IB World School.

 

What are candidate schools?

In order to be recognized as a candidate school by the IB Organization, schools must submit the completed Application for candidacy and supporting documents, and have paid the corresponding fee, to the relevant IB Organization office for its consideration.

If the IB Organization accepts the form and supporting documents, the school will be recognized as a candidate school through a letter sent by the IB Organization. Thereafter, and not before, a school is entitled to describe itself as a candidate school using the text provided by the IB Organization in that letter. However, because a candidate school may be unsuccessful in obtaining authorization, any reference to itself as a candidate school is made at its own risk without the IB Organization accepting any responsibility for the consequences if the IB Organization ultimately refuses authorization. In particular, candidate schools for the PYP and MYP must make it clear to parents and all interested third parties during the trial implementation period that the IB programme is not being offered under authorized status but only on trial as a candidate school.

While being recognized as a candidate school, a school takes all the measures it deems necessary to meet the requirements for authorization. For the PYP and MYP, this includes a trial implementation period of at least one full academic year. For the DP and the CP, the programme must not be offered until the school has received authorization to do so.

A candidate school may submit the Application for authorization and supporting documents when it considers it meets the requirements for authorization and according to the IB Organization’s schedule. Following the acceptance of the above-mentioned application, a verification visit by an IB Organization team will be organized in order to ascertain the preparedness of the school to implement the programme.

Because the IB Organization has full discretion to accept schools as candidates and to refuse authorization to a candidate school, there is no guarantee that candidate status and, eventually, authorization will be granted. Consequently, no actions taken or statements made, written or oral, by IB Organization representatives during any phase of the authorization process may be construed as being either implied or express indications/warranties that the candidate school will be granted authorization.

Furthermore, in the interest of preserving the value of the denomination “IB World School” and to prevent third parties, notably parents, being misled as to the status of a school, candidate schools must not describe themselves as an “IB World School” or claim in any manner during the authorization process, either orally or in their documentation, that they are authorized to implement IB programmes.

For further information on the rules for IB Candidate Schools please visit: https://www.ibo.org/globalassets/publications/become-an-ib-school/rules-for-ib-candidate-schools-en.pdf

For further information on the authorization timeline please visit:

https://www.ibo.org/become-an-ib-school/timeline-and-stages/

 

Want to join IB Schools Australasia?

As an Association of International Baccalaureate® World Schools, IB Schools Australasia has been formerly recognised by the IB and we work closely with the IB to advocate on behalf of our member schools. Associations can be an indispensable resource for both those schools new to the IB as well as those well-established schools.

All Authorized, Candidate and Partner schools in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji are eligible to join IB Schools Australasia.

IB Schools Australasia provides a number of services to our member schools:

  • Access to Professional Learning, specifically designed for our Member Schools: Speaker Series and in-house MELT workshops
  • Employment Services: Free of charge advertisement of school positions through our website and on social media
  • School Promotion Opportunities: Listing on our website and Social Media promotion
  • Access to courses for students: PYP Student Speaker Series and MYP Student Speaker Series
  • Networking opportunities: Our complimentary AGM professional learning event and Speaker Series events are designed to allow for inter school networking opportunities.
  • Newsletters for Member Schools: Our monthly newsletters highlight developments and or opportunities for member schools
  • IB Schools Australasia Certificates for Students and Awards Booklet Template: Our Certificates for PYP, MYP and DP students can be used for in school and state based awards ceremonies. In 2017, we introduced an Awards booklet template that could be and Network awards ceremonies to recognise student achievements.
  • Lobbying support for Member Schools in relation to the International Baccalaureate

Annual membership fees are:

  • Full membership for Authorised schools is  $600.00 (plus GST) 
  • Associate Membership for recognised Implementing schools is $ 350.00 (plus GST)
  • Partner Membership $250.00 (plus GST)

Please click here to download our membership pack.

For further information please contact us at [email protected]