IB Candidate School

Freedom International School – Africa (formerly Children in Freedom Schools) is an International Baccalaureate candidate school* for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP). This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. IB World Schools share a common philosophy- a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education- that we believe is important for our students.

* Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted.

About the IB

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a global leader in international education—developing inquiring, knowledgeable, confident, and caring young people. The IB programmes empower school-aged students to take ownership in their own learning and help them develop future-ready skills to make a difference and thrive in a world that changes fast. The IB is more than an education, it’s a lifelong opportunity. Students enjoy the benefit of a well recognised and respected qualification that can help them gain entry to their chosen university or career. As students learn, they build the skills, empathy and confidence needed to thrive in a modern world. To bring out the best in every learner, the IB learner profile puts the student at the centre of programmes, inspiring and motivating teachers, students and schools. Students will emerge as multilingual thinkers who can comfortably live, work and make a difference the world over.

The IB mission

The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. The IB encourages students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences can also be right.

The IB Programmes

The IB offers four programmes – Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), and the Career-related Programme (CP). Each programme is designed to spark lifelong skills and values, challenges students to thrive, with the IB continually evaluating, adapting and innovating to ensure best-practice learning.

Freedom International Schools – Africa is currently and IB candidate school and will offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP), and the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in the first instance. We aim to offer the Diploma Programme (DP) in due course.

Primary Years Programme

The Primary Years Programme (PYP) aims to spark a lifelong love of learning. It takes students aged 3 to 12 on an inquisitive learning journey that develops:-

• · Confident lifelong learners who can demonstrate cultural empathy and respect
• · Explores six themes of global significance through six subject areas
• · Empowers young students to build transdisciplinary skills
• · Contextualisation – It is a curriculum that can be adapted to their needs and culture
• · Multilingualism – From 7 years of age, students may also learn a second language

The Middle Years Programme

The Middle Years Programme (MYP) challenges students to thrive. It is for students aged 11 to 16 and is designed with the whole child in mind. Interdisciplinary and inquiry-based learning encourages students to become creative, critical and reflective thinkers which produces happy and purposeful students. MYP students study up to eight subject groups, each with at least 50 hours of instruction, while learning two languages or more.

What are the benefits of the IB for students?

Each programme offers students:

• · Educational content from different cultures around the world
• · A broad range of subjects for study
• · Additional individual subjects and transdisciplinary/interdisciplinary areas
• · Special emphasis on learning languages
• · Opportunities for individual and collaborative learning and research
• · Space to become responsible, active members of the local community personalize learning to their passions, interests, goals, learning styles and abilities
• · Encouragement to challenge their views, embrace cultural differences and see others’ viewpoints

The IB and The Freedom Values

The IB learner profile principles blend well with our Freedom values and principles. See the table below: