An International Baccalaureate Education

Through our International Baccalaureate programmes, at Somerset, we challenge and inspire our students to love learning, to strive for personal success and a global outlook. We believe in the rigour and depth that the International Baccalaureate provides offering the Primary Years Programme and the Middle Years Programme.

Each programme offers a rigorous, high-quality framework that encourages a depth of understanding and skills development and benefits children of all ages. The IB focuses on metacognition - learning how to think, not what to think – and this is something that the College fully supports. We provide opportunities at all year levels for student agency and for students to be engaged and empowered to provide service and action within their local and global communities. The International Baccalaureate has a focus on developing students that can help to shape a better world.

The International Baccalaureate develops well-rounded individuals, with an emphasis on social and emotional wellbeing and resilience, creativity, physical development, and service to others, in addition to academic achievement. Slow thinking, deep learning, critical thinking and reasoned decision-making are the drivers that underpin the International Baccalaureate curriculum. 

International Baccalaureate programmes encourage students to communicate their ideas clearly, thoughtfully and effectively. The ability to confidently express oneself whilst respecting the opinions and experiences of others is a valuable skill for success in life. The development of confident, capable and community-minded leaders of tomorrow is a clear benefit. We have exceptionally high numbers of our students going out to universities and our College is known for its high academic achievement. Undoubtedly, our students' involvement with the International Baccalaureate programmes and our approach to learning plays an important role in this sustained success.