Taunton School students are celebrating record International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme results, with an average points score per candidate of 36 putting them 6 points ahead of the world average. This is the third consecutive year of improvement in IB results.
28 students passed the Diploma and nearly all of them met the offer conditions for their first choice university. One student, Sara Guest, who was Deputy Head Girl, achieved an amazing maximum score of 45 points. A further six students scored 40 points or more.
Australian boarding student Sara, who joined Taunton School in the sixth form, is celebrating her brilliant results ‘down under’ today, as she returned to her home town of Perth on Sunday. Sara, 18, said “The last two years at Taunton School have been incredible. I owe a lot to the school so it is very emotional to be leaving. I received my results over the phone which was quite nerve-wracking but in the end I’m very happy with what I got.” Sara studied Higher Level subjects of Economics, English Literature and History, and Standard Level subjects Maths, Spanish B and Biology. After the summer, Sara will be leaving home yet again to study Liberal Arts with a major scholarship in Bowdoin College in the USA.
Cornish boarder Callum Hudson, 18, is celebrating after getting an amazing 43 points and successfully securing his place to read Biology at Wadham College, Oxford. Callum, whose IB programme consisted of Higher Level subjects Biology, Chemistry and English, and Standard Level subjects of History, Spanish and Maths, joined Taunton School in the sixth form after being awarded an IB Scholarship. Callum, who formerly attended Launceston College said “I’m very happy with my results today after two years of hard work. I’m going back to Cornwall later to celebrate with my family. I’m really glad that I decided to come to Taunton School.”
Kiran Armanasco, who lives in Taunton, is enjoying a double celebration as she gets her IB results on her 18th birthday. Kiran attained 40 points and is pleased to secure her place to Regent’s Park College, Oxford to read Theology. Kiran got her results over the phone as she is currently in Spain on holiday with friends. She said “I’m so happy with my IB results as it means I’ve secured my place at Oxford. It’s made my 18th birthday even more special and I’m looking forward to a big celebration later!” Kiran’s IB programme consisted of Higher Level subjects of Philosophy, English and French. She attended Taunton School from Year 6 to Year 9, then went to a classics college in Italy for Year 10 and 11, and returned to Taunton School in the sixth form.
Over 200 students have completed the IB Diploma at Taunton School since it became an IB World School in 2007, and the cohort of 2017 are the most successful yet.
Other successful IB candidates are moving on to study at LSE, Imperial College, UCL and Manchester as well as universities in Europe, North America and Canada. Several are embarking on gap years.
IB Coordinator, Mr Martin Bluemel said: “I am absolutely delighted with this, our ninth set of Diploma results. IB is going from strength to strength at Taunton School and our students, whether they hail from near or far, have once again impressed me with their willingness to aim high and extend themselves beyond the confines of a ‘normal’ sixth form curriculum.”
Taunton School Headmaster, Mr Lee Glaser said: “These results are a great achievement. I am extremely proud of the efforts of the students and their teachers throughout this challenging course. Taunton School is leading the way both locally and globally with its vision for excellence and we look forward to news of further successes later this summer.”
The IB qualification is growing in popularity worldwide with top UK universities increasingly recognising the breadth of knowledge and skills students gain on this demanding programme. The IBDP is also proving to be increasingly valuable as graduates enter employment where their wide range of experiences make them highly sought after candidates. Taunton School is an experienced provider, one of few in the area, of this prestigious qualification.
