Our bespoke Pre-IB course

The course

The St Leonards Pre-IB is a self-contained course taken in the year prior to starting in the Sixth Form (Year 12). It enables pupils to progress seamlessly to either the two-year IB Diploma Programme or the IB Career-related Programme by allowing them to gain sufficient mastery of a number of subjects and developing the learning qualities which the International Baccalaureate seeks to enhance.

Course outline

The subjects studied at Pre-IB match the six subject groups of the IB Diploma and include Native Language (Group 1), English Literature (Group 2), History (Group 3), Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) (Group 4), Maths (Group 5) and a sixth subject which may be another language or humanity or creative subject. Non-native English speakers are expected to have a high degree of fluency (IELTS academic grade 5). EAL (English as an Additional Language) lessons are also provided to secure complete fluency.

The course leads to a minimum of five University of Cambridge IGCSE certificates or GCSE certificates, the world's most popular international qualifications for 14–16 year olds.

rounded development

Crucially, Pre-IB students, where appropriate, have the opportunity to adapt to boarding life and learn the customs and culture of Scotland and the UK.

All Pre-IB pupils join the rest of the Year 11 pupils  for two major aspects of their programme. These are their Group 6 subject (for example, Art and Design, Drama, another humanity or another language) and also Physical Education lessons, Games and a wide variety of other activities, sporting and non-sporting.

Fully integrated