A Newcastle Sixth Form College student has proved he is one of the best in the country by receiving almost full marks in the International Baccalaureate (IB).
Connor Russell, 18 from Sunniside, collected his results today and was awarded 43 out of a maximum of 45 marks, placing him well above the national average.
Connor, who has been accepted into the London School of Economics, achieved full marked in five of his subjects, including Higher Levels Maths.
The percentage of students awarded the full IB Diploma was well above the IB world average.
Newcastle College is the only IB world school in the city. The IB is a challenging two year programme of international education for 16-18 year olds and is an alternative to A Levels. It leads to a highly valued qualification that is recognised by universities and employers across the world.
The IB was founded in 1968 and is studied by more than 746,000 students world-wide. Students take six core subjects, with an additional chosen subject. They are also required to study an extended essay on a topic of choice; Creative, Action, Service (CAS), including involvement in creative activity, sport and student engagement in social work or community engagement and Theory of Knowledge (ToK), a course of at least 100 hours which encourages students to be critical thinkers.
Connor said: “I can’t believe my results. I thought I had done well, but would never have imagined that I would get maximum points in five of my 6 subjects. The IB has been a fantastic experience, developing me personally as well as academically and I am now very excited to continue my education at the London School of Economics.”
Lynda Evans, Senior Manager in Newcastle Sixth Form College, said: “This is an outstanding achievement for our students. The IB is a highly valued qualification which is welcomed by universities across the world, due to the range of topics covered and the emphasis on encouraging students to be critical thinkers and consider the environment that they live in. We are particularly delighted for Connor.
“This is the highest mark a student at the college has ever achieved and will undoubtedly one of the best marks in the country this year. Connor’s acceptance to London School of Economics is testament to the value of the IB and the various progression routes available to students on the course.”
For more information on the International Baccalaureate at Newcastle Sixth Form College visit www.ncl-coll.ac.uk/sixth-form/courses/international-baccalaureate.aspx or contact the college switchboard on 0191 2004000.
