As an IB World School, Chilton is passionate about the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) as it is well suited to the majority of students. The PYP principles of inquiry and self-motivated learning are valuable skills that students can continue to apply throughout their secondary schooling and beyond. The attributes of the Leaner Profile underpin Chilton’s educational programme right through the school – up to Year 13.
Secondary students at Chilton are encouraged to aim high at NCEA and focus on achieving endorsement of individual Subjects and their Certificate with Merit or Excellence.
The range of timetable options at Chilton allows a Year 13 student to study Level 3 Biology, Chemistry and Physics while also studying English, Painting and Sculpture for example.
There are excellent extension opportunities, with Scholarship and University level subjects on offer to our high achieving senior girls.
The IB Diploma Programme is currently taught by 11 schools in New Zealand – a small but slowly growing number. The rigidity of the IB Diploma is very different from the flexible subject combinations which are available under the NCEA system. Also, the very academic IB Diploma is not an appropriate choice for many senior students.
At Chilton we choose not to teach the IB Diploma because it enforces a rigid framework in which a student must study Maths, English, a science, a foreign language, a humanity plus one other subject across both Years 12 and 13. This means that not only do many students have to study subjects they may not like; they also cannot change their mind about interests or their future career path.
Chilton’s vertical senior timetable permits a Year 13 girl who changes her mind about her future to pick up a subject she has previously dropped but now finds she needs e.g. Level 2 Chemistry or Level 2 Accounting.
Keeping a flexible approach to each girl’s individual programme is fundamental in the learning experience offered at Chilton.
To read more about PYP at Chilton click here, or to learn more about our NCEA programmes at Secondary levels, click here.
