Mercedes College is South Australia's only Catholic school offering the IB Organisation curriculum from Reception to Year 12, and one of just a handful of schools delivering the programme at all three levels.
For more than 30 years, students at Mercedes College have studied the IB curriculum:
- Reception to Year 5, students participate in our IB Primary Years Programme (PYP).
- Year 6 to Year 10 study our IB Middle Years Programme (MYP).
- Students in Years 11 and 12 may choose to complete the IB Diploma Programme or the South Australian Certificate of Education. Regardless of their choice, having studied the IB program students are well equipped for success.
No other curriculum more comprehensively prepares students for life in an increasingly intercultural world, nor more effectively opens their minds to a life independent learning. It develops inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
There's no doubt, that students at Mercedes College are provided with a unique education with the Australian curriculum taught through the IB frameworks.
Each of the IB programmes enables students to make sense of the complexities of the world around them, as well as equipping them with the skills and qualities needed for taking responsible action for the future. The programmes crosses disciplines, cultural, national and geographical boundaries, championing critical thinking, stimulating ideas and effective relationships.
At all three levels of the programme - Primary, Middle and Diploma - our students develop strong academic, social and emotional characteristics and will:
- be encouraged to think independently and drive their learning
- build a sense of identity and cultural awareness
- stimulate curiosity to foster a spirit of discovery and enjoyment of learning
- become equipped with the skills to learn, individually or collaboratively, and apply these qualities across a broad range of areas
- participate in programs of education that can lead them to some of the highest ranking universities around the world
- become more culturally aware through the development of a second language
- be able to engage with people in an increasingly globalised, rapidly changing world.
The IB Diploma Programme is made up of two components – six academic subjects, and the Core, which includes a Theory of Knowledge (TOK) unit that develops critical thinking, an extended essay, and Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) which is a set of informally assessed activities whereby students develop personal and interpersonal skills through learning experiences, including creativity, physical activity and voluntary services.
The highest possible IB score is 45, this converts into an ATAR of 99.95.
Our highly qualified teachers contribute to the overarching IB framework by writing curriculum updates, evaluations and assessing students’ exams.