Students at Westbourne School are, once again, celebrating outstanding success in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma examinations; indeed, their best results ever. Westbourne students have maintained and surpassed the exceptionally high standards set by their predecessors, with four students – ~30% of graduates – scoring over 40 points out of the maximum possible 45. To put this into context, 40 points equates to between four and five A*s at A-level, and will get students in to pretty much any course at the best universities in the UK, the USA and around the world. The results confirm Westbourne’s status as one of the most successful IB schools in the country. While the Sunday Times rankings will not be available until the autumn, Westbourne expects to rank in or very close to the Top 10 co-ed IB boarding schools in the UK.
With results like these, it is no wonder Westbourne graduates find the doors to their first choice university courses wide open for them. Over two-thirds of our graduates will be heading to Russell Group universities or equivalently elite international institutions, including Oxford, Kings College London, Barts and London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Exeter, Erasmus Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Madrid University. At least half of our graduates will go on to study medicine, law or engineering.
Westbourne’s top scoring student, with an outstanding 44 out of 45, was Hannah Beare, a local pupil, who has earned a place at Exeter University to study medicine. Hannah is in no doubt that her choice to take the International Baccalaureate at Westbourne was the correct one. “Studying the IB at Westbourne has been an excellent opportunity. It has been incredibly hard work but it has all been worth it; I feel more than prepared for what lies ahead for me in university. What I love about the IB is that it has allowed me to take such a vast range of subjects to such a high academic level and it has challenged me, teaching me to think for myself.”
Natalie Laske achieved 40 points, gaining a place at the University of Amsterdam to study politics, psychology, law and economics, and is understandably delighted. “I cannot quite believe it! I owe a great deal of thanks to my teachers at Westbourne. The teachers at Westbourne are fantastic and the international feel of Westbourne complements the IB perfectly, making it an ideal learning environment for overseas and local pupils alike. I have thoroughly enjoyed my two years here.”
The IB Diploma Programme is designed to challenge and broaden students’ educational experience, and to develop academic and intellectual all-rounders, and future leaders in whatever career they pursue. Leading educational experts in the UK and around the world hold the IB Diploma to be the best possible preparation for university and beyond.
Ken Underhill, Principal of Westbourne School said, “The International Baccalaureate Diploma offers a rigorous and holistic academic education which equips our students to meet the challenges of an increasingly globalised and competitive world. Our students have benefitted immensely from the IB and have performed exceptionally well. We are enormously proud of them and share in their elation and success.”
