Diploma Programme (DP)
High School: 10th and 11th grades
The Diploma Programme (DP), offered to students aged 16 to 19, is a demanding and balanced educational program with rigorous assessment methods centered in international mindedness, holistic learning, critical judgement, language acquisition and developing personal talents. The Diploma is an excellent preparation for higher education and encourages students to participate actively in a gradually more globalized society.
The education in the Diploma Programme is centered on concepts, ideas and questions that go beyond the disciplinary, cultural, national and geographical boundaries. The DP offers an educational experience with a broad and balanced international approach with the simultaneous study of six courses chosen by the students based on their interests: (Language A: Language and Literature, Language B: English, History, Business Management, Biology, Environmental Systems, Mathematics, Analysis and Approaches, Visual Arts). Courses like Visual Arts include planning, preparation and production of art pieces in drawing, painting, sculpting, engraving and photography, which are presented in a public exhibition at school and at an outside venue.
The three core components are mandatory for all students:
Extended Essay
It involves doing research on a topic of interest for the students and this lets them apply research and writing skills required in Higher Education. It is a written paper of 4000 words and is completed during both years of DP.
Theory of Knowledge (ToK)
An interdisciplinary course created to develop an integrated and coherent approach to learning through exploration of the nature of knowledge in all disciplines. In addition, it stimulates appreciation of cultural perspectives and critical judgement.
Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS)
It motivates students to take part in all sorts of activities that include physical effort, creativity and imagination and service to others, starting from changing themselves, instilling in students knowledge and appreciation for the extra-academic life.
At Prescott, all of our students of 10th and 11th grades take the DP with the same rigorousness. The aim is to give them all the opportunity to take the Program and have an important advantage over other students that graduate from schools who do offer DP. At the end of the first year of Diploma (10th grade), they along with their parents, decide whether they will take the external evaluations, under the guidance of their Tutors and Teachers to make this important decision.
Our teachers are permanently trained at oficial workshops organized by the International Baccalaureate so that they can prepare our students properly for the demanding examinations.
Currently, the best universities worldwide accept the IB Diploma and offer several advantages to students from schools that offer the Program.