SIXTH FORM

Welcome from the Coordinator of Baccalaureate

Dear Newton family and community,

I welcome you to the Baccalaureate stage. As you know, at Newton College our students have the possibility of studying two Baccalaureate, the Baccalaureate following the model of the Spanish national system, and the International Baccalaureate, Diploma Programme, of the IB.

This stage is a key period for the pupils as it is the time when they will determine their future. Therefore, our teaching staff play a fundamental role in the choice of subjects or modalities.

The main objective of this stage is for pupils to understand and appreciate the world around them so that they can contribute to creating a better world. Our aim is to help our students to be reflective and critical thinkers in order to help them determine the best options and decisions for their future.

FRANCISCO BELTRÁN

Position: Sixth Form & IB coordinator

Email: f.beltran@newtoncollege.es

Baccalaureate at Newton College

For more than 15 years we have been offering our Baccalaureate students a combined national and international programme (Spanish National Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme), taught in Spanish. Adapting to the needs of our students and following the current trends of the future of education, from the academic year 16-17, the school offers two clearly differentiated pathways at this stage of Bachillerato, guaranteeing access to national and international universities with both programmes:

  • Spanish Programme, taught in Spanish, which incorporates some of the core components of the International Diploma Programme.
  • International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, most subjects taught in English, and in Spanish: Language and Literature, and Language Acquisition and in Chinese: Language Acquisition.

International Spanish Programme

The Baccalaureate consists of two courses, Year 12 or first year of Baccalaureate and Year 13 or second year of Baccalaureate.

Students who take the National Baccalaureate can choose between the following modalities:

  • Scientific and Technological (technical and biosanitary pathways).
  • Humanities and Social Sciences

The main objectives of this stage are to provide our students with an intellectual and humane education that awakens in them a critical spirit, tolerance, respect and love for progress and culture, and which in turn enables them to enter the university or the world of work.

To achieve this, we integrate in the classroom initiatives and pedagogical methodologies that allow the enrichment and growth of our students both personally and intellectually.

That is why we emphasise:

  • Internships, project-based planning and study, and the more interdisciplinary and intensive study of different languages such as English, Spanish, Valencian and German. All of this provides students with a multilingual and multicultural education that is essential in today’s world.
  • The use of new technologies and research work led by teachers are basic requirements in our Educational Project.
  • Training in values continues to be the centre of convergence and irradiation in our educational system.

At the end of the Second Baccalaureate course, students sit the University Entrance Exams (EVAU). Since its beginnings , our school has always registered a 100% pass rate in these exams and the average of our school has always been equal to or higher than 7 points out of 10, which allows our students to access the University with a quality preparation.

As in the whole Secondary school, at this stage, we present our pupils to external language certification exams, that is to say, to the Advance (C1) and Proficiency (C2) levels of the University of Cambridge, as well as to the Goethe Institut exams.

Bilingual Diploma Programme

The International Baccalaureate Diploma offers our students the opportunity to develop their academic and personal potential through a bilingual, broad, balanced, challenging and challenging curriculum tailored to their needs and abilities.

The vision, philosophy, values and curriculum of the IB Diploma provide excellent preparation for university and adult life.

“At Newton College we prepare future citizens of the world”.

Regardless of the option chosen, our aim is to train students to participate effectively in an increasingly globalised society.

Diploma Programme

The Diploma Programme is a challenging and stimulating international education curriculum delivered over a two-year course for students aged 16-19. The qualification is recognised by prestigious universities around the world.

The Diploma Programme provides students with not only knowledge, but prepares them for university and encourages them to:

  • Ask complex questions
  • Learn how to learn
  • Develop a strong personal and cultural identity;
  • Develop the ability to understand and communicate with people from other countries and cultures

The curriculum contains six subject groups and a common core comprising three separate components.

Students take six subjects of their choice from those available in the six subject groups. Normally three subjects are taken at the higher level (240 teaching hours per subject), and the other three at the intermediate level (150 teaching hours per subject). Students can enrol in the following subjects and levels:

Biology NS, Chemistry NM, Business Management NS, English A NS, Spanish B NS, Environmental Systems NM, Geography NM, Mathematics NM, Mathematical Studies NM, Visual Arts NS, Physics NS, Spanish A NS, German B NM, Mandarin Chinese NM and Film NM.

At the end of the two-year programme, students are assessed both internally and externally on their individual performance in relation to the objectives set for each subject. Students from our school register for the external IB exams in May. The three components of the common core (Monograph, Theory of Knowledge and Creativity, Action and Service), are compulsory and are central to the philosophy of the Diploma Programme. They are also a fundamental requirement for the award of this international qualification.

  • Monograph: The course leading to the Monograph, which should not exceed 4000 words, gives students the opportunity to research a topic of particular interest to them, while familiarising them with independent research and the type of academic writing that will be expected of them at university.
  • Theory of Knowledge (ToK): This is an interdisciplinary course designed to develop an integrated and coherent approach to learning by exploring the nature of knowledge across disciplines and also stimulates an appreciation of other cultural perspectives.
  • Creativity, Action and Service (CAS): Participation in the College’s Creativity, Action and Service component encourages students to take part in artistic, sporting and community service activities thus fostering an awareness and appreciation of extra-curricular life.

The IB Diploma is a passport to higher education. In this spirit, Newton College brings together the conditions through its unique Programme, a combination of the Diploma Programme and the National Programme, to prepare its students for the Diploma Certificate, and also to achieve optimal preparation and results in the Spanish University Entrance Examination (EVAU).