SA Certificate of Education IB or SACE? At this time of the year Senior School students in Years 10 and 11 are occupied with their subject selections for SACE (South Australian Certificate of Education). We have conducted two well attended Curriculum Evenings, in addition to separate presentations to the students in each year level. Each girl has received individual subject counselling as well to ensure that her selections best suit her interests, abilities and future directions. One query that has been raised, on occasions, at the Curriculum Evenings is why Seymour College only offers the SACE. I am sure that you would be aware that a few other schools offer an alternative to the SACE, the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB). However, at Seymour, we have taken a deliberate, and carefully considered decision to concentrate on the SACE rather than diversify into the IB as well. We believe that the SACE curriculum package offers the same opportunities as the IB, and a number of other benefits for our students that the IB cannot provide. In common with the IB, the South Australian Certificate of Education: is an internationally recognised certificate of school completion accepted at all major universities worldwide; offers a comprehensive and balanced curriculum package; provides opportunities for challenging assessment tasks; endeavours to develop the individual talents of the students; relates classroom experiences to the real world; places an emphasis on students becoming critical and compassionate thinkers and life-long learners; encourages students to become informed participants in local and world affairs. The SACE also provides the following additional benefits not to be found in the IB program: A broad and diverse range of available subjects. In 2003 we will offer 28 different Year 12 SACE subjects at Seymour College. This level of curriculum breadth is not found in the IB program. Flexible curriculum pattern. The required SACE curriculum pattern is far less prescriptive than that required in the IB. Subjects that suit the interests and abilities of all students. The IB program is a demanding course, catering only for students with high academic aspirations. However, many students are now looking for alternatives to the more traditional academic offerings. The learning needs of all students, regardless of interests or abilities, are accommodated through the SACE. Students can incorporate other learning experiences, such as VET, into their SACE package. In addition to this, SACE courses are written with due consideration to local issues and requirements, with the interests of South Australian students at the core. The Senior Secondary Assessment Board of South Australian (SSABSA) is a local organisation. Consequently, any cause for concern can be dealt with efficiently and quickly. SSABSA advisors are as close as a local phone call. One direct and major consequence of introducing the IB program into a school with Year 11 and 12 student numbers such as ours, is that the breadth of subjects we could offer in both the IB and in the SACE would be severely restricted. The student numbers would essentially be split between each program, and hence, with smaller numbers per program, far fewer subjects could be offered in SACE and the range of IB subjects would be very limited. For all of these reasons, we have therefore taken the well-considered decision to focus on SACE. We offer the SACE, with pride, to our community as the certificate of school completion that best suits Seymour College students. RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE