King Edward’s School, Birmingham has won The Sunday Times International Baccalaureate School of the Year.
The Sunday Times announced in yesterday’s publication the winners for its coveted School of the Year awards. King Edward’s School took the top spot in the International Baccalaureate (IB) category for its outstanding performance in the IB Diploma this year which places the school 26th overall in The Sunday Times league table of independent schools and best of any school offering 100% IB to its sixth form.
King Edward’s School moved to the IB Diploma in 2010, replacing A-levels completely. The 2015 IB Diploma results broke school records and produced three top marks of 45 – a score achieved by only 160 worldwide out of almost 142,000 – an average score of 39.4, and over half of the 104 boys scored 40 points or above: the equivalent to 4 A* at A-level.
John Claughton, Chief Master, said: “This is a very proud and significant moment for the school. The move to 100% IB in 2010 was a gigantic step, taken to offer the boys a truly challenging education. This award and the success in the league tables are proof of our success in making that move. We are not only the best 100% IB school in this country but one of the best in the world.
“King Edward’s School is the most socially and ethnically diverse independent school in this country and we believe that the IB Diploma is the right education for the boys to prepare them for the global challenges that lie ahead of them. After all, the IB’s mission is to make the world more peaceful.
“Such success only comes when all members of the school community, pupils, staff, parents, governors and alumni come together to make it happen.”
In addition to commending the school on its ‘outstanding performance’ in the IB Diploma, The Sunday Times praised the school’s drive for Assisted Places, which has made the school as socially diverse as the city and opened it up to more bright children from ordinary backgrounds. To date, almost £9m has been raised for Assisted Places and the school is on target to reach £10m before John Claughton retires next summer.
