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IB Diploma Home

The IB Diploma is a complete educational programme. The subjects provide both breadth and depth, and there are three core elements which help to provide overview, additional academic specialisation, and a recognition of interests outside the classroom. These are the course in the Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and Activities (CAS).

Theory of Knowledge
While students choose their programmes from a range of subject areas, these are still separate subjects. With the Theory of Knowledge course the IB adds two further qualities to a student's study. First, by looking at the pattern of all knowledge, that which is gained from subject studies and that which is gained from friends, family, the media and other sources, a sense of perspective is achieved. Students can see how new knowledge relates to the world of knowledge as a whole. Second, students are trained in the critical evaluation of knowledge, so that they can see how different types of knowledge have to be judged in different ways, and so that they can assess the value of new knowledge claims.

Extended Essay
During the two years of their Diploma studies, students are required to undertake a specific piece of research. This is usually research into an aspect of one of their subjects. For example, History students might look at a battle or a political incident that is of special interest to them. Economics students might look at the performance of a company that they know well. Biology students might study one particular ecosystem, or one organism in that system.

The results of this research must then be written up in the form of a research paper of some 4000 words. This can be a challenging task, but intellectually very satisfying for a good student.

CAS
CAS stands for Creativity, Action and Service. It is realised by the IB that many students will have extensive interests outside their academic studies. In order to give recognition and encouragement to these, the IB asks them to spend one afternoon or the equivalent time each week undertaking activities that come under one or more of these headings. For example, activities that involve Creativity include Studio Art and Photography. Action could be a team sport like football or an individual activity like swimming. For Service, students may help people in the community such as the old or the disabled, or may help charities such as Oxfam or each other (by teaching a language, for example).

Some activities cover more than one heading. For example, a play performed at a local school or old people's home may well involve creativity, action and service.

Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)
Though not an assessed part of the IB programme, St. Clare's offers students a course in Personal, Social and Health education covering a wide range of topics such as relationships, study skills, citizenship, substance abuse and healthy eating.