Another Outstanding Year for International Baccalaureate Students

Varndean College’s 42 International Baccalaureate Diploma students once more produced excellent results in the 2012 examinations.

Our students, drawn from local comprehensives, outperformed their rivals from many selective private schools in the examinations for this prestigious international qualification. 

They achieved an average score of 35.45 points, making Varndean College one of the highest achieving IB state schools in the UK. The percentage of subject results in the highest two grades, 58.5%, makes these the best results in the college’s history of teaching the IB.

Three students achieved 44 out of a maximum 45 points, putting them in the top 0.25% of 55,000 candidates worldwide. Alfie Cheesman is going to read History at Cambridge, Will  Manifold will take a degree in Natural Sciences at Durham at Rebekah Morris will study Medicine at Exeter.

Not far behind with 43 points were Ezme Cohen, Agnieska Felska and Rowan Howell. Ezme and Agnieska will both study Medicine, at Birmingham and University College London respectively. Rowan has a place to read Mathematics at Wadham College, Oxford. Amy Pike, with 42 points is applying to study English after voluntary work in Latin America.

Eleven students scored 40 points or more, putting them in the top 4% in the world.

International Baccalaureate Co-ordinator Dr Sean McEvoy was full of praise for the students. ‘They have been a brilliant bunch of young people to work with. They have worked hard, but really enjoyed it and gained a great deal. They are now off to an impressive range of universities. Last year we had the best results of any college in the UK, and this year they are even better’.

Students following the IB Diploma study six different subjects, including literature, maths, science and a language. They also complete an individual project and take part in creative, active and community activities.

Varndean has been offering the International Baccalaureate since September 2008. Numbers on the course have grown each year. Our information evening for the 2013 intake is at 6.30 on October 18. Sean McEvoy, the IB co-ordinator, can be contacted at spm@varndean.ac.uk.