Record Success for Kristin Students in the International Baccalaureate

Kristin School has commenced its 40 Year anniversary celebrations in the best possible way, with news this week of a record set of examination results in the International Baccalaureate Diploma. Kristin was the first school in New Zealand to offer the prestigious qualification, which is held in high regard in universities around the world.

The School�s 2012 results maintain a proud academic tradition which has consistently exceeded world averages over the past 23 years. This includes a 98% pass rate and a record 21 students scoring 40 points or more of the maximum 45 available in the Diploma; 20% of Kristin�s candidates scored at this elite level, compared to a world average of 6%. The top score of 44 was achieved by Kelly Su, with James Allen and Tina Li scoring 43 points.

Executive Principal Peter Clague commends the work required to excel in this challenging qualification. �I am hugely proud of our students and the results they have achieved this year. They have committed to their studies with an enthusiasm and spirit that is a true reflection of the IB philosophy. What is even more impressive is the requirement of the IB Diploma for each student to engage in creative, physical and service activities throughout their two-year programme as well as their academic pursuits. Last year�s graduates are talented and inspired individuals and I have every confidence that they will go on to make a significant contribution to NZ society and the global community.�

Kristin was the first school in New Zealand to introduce the IB Diploma programme in 1989 and since then its students have developed a reputation for producing consistently high results in the demanding course. Kristin�s IB students are regularly accepted into the leading tertiary institutions in Australasia, Europe and the US, many on fully funded scholarship programmes.

The IB Diploma consists of six subject areas including native and acquired languages, social sciences, experimental sciences and mathematics and the arts, and is designed to be academically challenging and holistically balanced. In addition to their six chosen courses, students are challenged to broaden their educational experience through community service, self-directed research (in the form of a 4000-word extended essay) and critical examination in the Theory of Knowledge. Currently there are close to 1 million IB students at 3,440 schools in 141 countries across the world.

Senior School students at Kristin have the choice to follow the NCEA pathway from Year 11 to 13 or to undertake the two-year IB Diploma in Years 12 and 13. On average, 58% of students elect to complete the Diploma, which usually equates to approximately 100 students in each year level. These students represent just over 30% of New Zealand�s IB Diploma students.