The students of our graduating class 2015 are to be congratulated on their outstanding success in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). The class of 2015 is the third cohort to graduate from Sophia Mundi under the Diploma Programme pathway. We were thrilled to be able to continue to offer a wide range of subjects, including an online subject, Spanish B, through Pamoja Education. The class consisted of 11 students. Of the Year 9 2012 class, 83% continued into Class 12. We were excited to welcome one new student into the cohort in 2014 and another in 2015, both transferring from other Melbourne schools to complete their IB Diploma at Sophia Mundi.
The two-year IB Diploma Programme curriculum encompasses the study of six subjects together with the core components of CAS (Creativity, Action and Service), TOK (a Theory of Knowledge course) and EE (a 4000 word academic research based Extended Essay). The aim of the challenging and rigorous Diploma Programme is to develop internationally minded people who strive to display the IB Learner Profile outcomes of being inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective individuals.
All eleven students who attempted the Diploma earned their Diploma, with the average score of 32 (out of 45). One graduate, who had been at Sophia Mundi since Prep, achieved a 41, the highest score in the history of the Diploma at the school. Overall, 50% of IB candidates at SMSS in 2015 earned an ATAR over 90.
In addition, the class of 2015 bested the world average in eight subjects: Spanish B (SL), History (SL & HL), Biology (SL), Chemistry (SL & HL), Physics (SL) Mathematics (SL), Theatre (HL) and Visual Arts (HL). The cohort had several students receive early entrance offers to LaTrobe University with other offers coming in from RMIT and Melbourne University after results were issued. Three members of the class of 2015 have taken a gap year to travel and work, while others have gone immediately into further study, working towards degrees in a range of areas, including Psychology, Law, Environmental Sciences, and General Science. We are excited to see how each student decides to use their unique talents and achievements to benefit the local and global communities in the years to come.
Ashley Dufty
International Baccalaureate Diploma Program Co-ordinator
