1st April 2021

All about LYBS IB DP

LYBS High School English Division was founded in 2011 and has educated numerous graduates over the past 10 years. We are proud that 57% of our graduates have enrolled in the University of Toronto, which is ranked No. 18 by THE in 2020 and more than 80% of our graduates have been accepted by World Top 100 Universities.

Since its founding, LYBS has been continuously challenging itself. It was authorized to implement the IB PYP/ MYP framework alongside the Chinese National Curriculum in primary school and middle school in 2018 and 2020 respectively. In 2021, it got authorized to offer the IB DP curriculum and as a result our school was officially confirmed as an IB continuum world school.

How was this highly prestigious IB programme verified in 5 months? What is the difference of the LYBS DP programme? What are the arrangements for the first year of its implementation? Today, we will take a look at the programme, including the unveiling of the full faculty; an introduction to the subjects offered; how the 1:1 Learning Optimization Service helps students make a smooth transition and how we can ensure student success in further education through the DP programme.

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For more detailed information about the LYBS Diploma Programme, please visit our new website and download the programme handbook for prospective students (click “Read more” for the link). Also follow us as we continue to provide you with more insight about our DP and faculty over the next few weeks.


Index



01 Why LYBS launched the IB DP programme?

02 What is the IB DP programme?

03 What is the advantage of the LYBS IB DP programme?

04 The faculty at a glance!

05 IB DP subject offerings

06 1:1 Optimal Learning support 

07 Total education solution 



01. Why LYBS launch IB DP programme?

We believe that the goal of education is not just to get students into a particular university, but to enable them to become lifelong learners, so that they can develop "global competencies" and face challenges for a better life in the future.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) alumni are accepted and graduate from college at higher rates than students attending programmes other than the DP (Bergeron, 2015; Caspary, 2011; Halic, 2013).


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According to a study conducted in East Asia, IB DP graduates are better equipped with a variety of skills, including cultural sensitivity, time management, leadership and global thinking, which will be needed in the uncertain VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) era of the future. Having these skills will better equip students for the rapidly changing times ahead.


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Moreover,IB DP graduates manage to achieve higher subject grades and overall GPA compared to non-DP students.

On February 11th, 2016, the International Baccalaureate released a summary of findings from research conducted by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) examining university enrollment and achievement of matched cohorts of IB Diploma Programme and A-Level students.

• Some of the key findings included the following:
IB diploma students were significantly more likely to attend a top 20 higher education institution than their A level peers
• IB diploma students had a significantly greater likelihood of earning a first-class honours degree than A level students did.
• IB diploma students were significantly more likely to be engaged in further study after university graduation.


02. What is the IB DP programme?

The DP aims at developing students who have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge ‒ students who flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically. The Diploma Programme curriculum is made up of six subject groups and the DP core, comprising of Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) and the Extended Essay (EE). Through the Diploma Programme core, students reflect on the nature of knowledge, complete independent research and undertake projects mainly focusing on community service.

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03. LYBS DP programme advantages

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04. A team of faculty

The LYBS IB DP faculty team includes a group of experienced educators led by the whole school Head, Antony GERALIS, who has 30 years experience in bilingual international education in Europe and Asia including 15 years experience in education management and 15 years in International Baccalaureate (IB) world schools.

These experienced educators, all of whom have extensive experience in teaching, learning, assessment and educational administration, including curriculum design and development, will personally teach the DP cohort to make sure students are getting the best education possible.

Our DP faculty includes 17 highly qualified and experienced education professionals alongside a team of 6 optimal learning support teachers to help an initial cohort of 24 students achieve their best and beyond.

Please click here to know more about IB DP faculty


05. Subject offerings

The first year of its implementation the LYBS DP will offer 17 high-quality subjects according to the characteristics and strengths of the students, following the six subject groups and three core courses.

Group 1: Language & Literature

Language A: Chinese Language & Literature (SL, LYBS/HL), 
Instructor: Dr. Yuhao WU 
Self-taught language A literature (SL)
Facilitator: Dr. Liliana WORTH
(More language choices could be considered as options to be offered on a needs basis)

Group 2: Language Acquisition

Language B: Language Acquisition (SL, LYBS/HL)

Instructor: Tianfeng CHEN
(More language choices could be considered as options to be offered on a needs basis)

Group 3: Individuals & Societies

Subjects offered: Business and Management (SL, LYBS/HL), Economics (SL, LYBS/HL), ITGS (SL, LYBS/HL)
Instructors: Prachi GUPTA, David COPLEY, Brian DEVLIN

Group 4: Science

Subjects offered: Biology (SL, LYBS/HL), Physics (SL, LYBS/HL)

Instructors: Patrick BRANNAC, Dr. Xiaoqin SU

Group 5: Mathematics

Subjects offered: Mathematics Analysis & Approaches (SL, LYBS/HL), Mathematics Applications & Interpretation (SL, LYBS/HL)
Instructors: Dr. Xiaoqin SU, Richard WOO

Group 6: The Arts

Subjects offered: Visual arts (SL, LYBS/HL), Theatre (SL, LYBS/HL), Film (SL, LYBS/HL) but also Chemistry (SL, LYBS/HL), Computer Science (SL, LYBS/HL), Psychology-Pamoja online (SL, LYBS/HL), Philosophy-Pamoja online (SL, LYBS/HL)

Instructors: Albert Walker, Thomas HOOD, Patrick BRANNAC, Brian DEVLIN


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Theory of Knowledge in Chinese: Dr. Yuhao WU
Theory of Knowledge in English: Dr.Liliana WORTH


EE

Antony GERALIS (Head of School),David COPLEY


CAS

Zhen Zhen


06. 1:1 Optimal Learning Centre

For the DP programme, many parents are still “stuck in the myth” that the DP is too difficult; it's a programme only for good students. Compared to regular exam-oriented curricula (Chinese college entrance exams, A-Levels, etc.), the IB DP put emphasis on the breadth of learning and skills acquisition and development which require students to be able to inquire and reflect in order to develop as lifelong learners.

Many parents are concerned that students transferring from different learning backgrounds to join the DP programme will not be able to quickly adapt to the pace of the DP. For this reason, the LYBS programme is supported by the Optimal Learning Center (OLC) that allows students to quickly “get into shape”, which is why we know that our DP can is suitable for all students from all sorts of learning backgrounds.

The Optimal Learning Center (OLC) is “manned” by highly experienced and qualified Chinese educators to support students inside and outside the classrooms in Individuals & Societies, Science, and Arts related subjects, so that they can smoothly transition to the requirements of the IB DP and be successful.


07. Total education solution

After reading so much about the curriculum and our faculty, we hope you already feel confident that your student can and should join the programme, but how does the school ensure that every child will be individually supported in the journey to further education?

LYBS uses a bespoke student profiling system, under the guidance of a highly experienced university counsellor and supporting team to provide personalized support to parents and students. Mr. McLaughlin - is not only experienced in university admissions with a 100% success, but most importantly understands family and student characteristics in depth to help make the right choices.

During his graduate studies at John Hopkins University, he participated in a collaborative project with Nanjing University and completed a research paper in Chinese on social equity issues for China's younger generations, which received great recognition from the industry. He is able to provide tailor-made university planning for families and students in a variety of areas from career and academic planning to background enhancement.

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LYBS also provides students with a wealth of career experience opportunities, student clubs and Amazing House after-school activities (ASAs) based on the IB DP CAS framework, providing students with a wealth of challenging opportunities to find and own projects that interest them and to be able to gain organizational and management experience.

CAS coordinator Zhen Zhen looks at the students with a developmental perspective and strives to discover the potential and characteristics in each student, so that they can gain confidence. She has won the titles of "Pioneer Coach" and "Excellent Coach" when organizing students' participation in a multitude of competitions.

Please click here if you want to know more about LYBS IB DP