IB evaluations - What really happens?
Tuesday 16 January 2024
IB World Schools are evaluated every five years. UWC Red Cross Nordic is in the middle of its evaluation, so it seems a good time to share how the process works for DP Coordinators and teachers.
There are three inputs required from the school:
- Preliminary Review - Upload roughly 30 statements, charts, documents and policies to check whether these meet IB expectations. In theory, everything should already be in place, but there are a few big templates for the DP Coordinator to fill in (e.g. budget and professional development training). These files are checked, and preliminary matters to be addressed are sent back to the Coordinator if required.
- Self-Assessment - An opportunity for all members of the school community to be represented and share their opinions about the IB education on offer according to a questionnaire. The four sections are purpose, environment, culture and learning. There are spaces to list successes and challenges from the previous five years to explain the 'tick box' responses given.
- Programme Development Plan - Good IB schools will be learning organisations seeking to improve over time. The IB suggests that there should be one clear development per year, and a template is provided to keep records. One of these out of the five is selected by the school for upload along with the Self-Assessment.
Some schools will then be visited (either in person or online) to see how the paperwork plays out in reality. Irrespective of whether the school is selected for a visit, there is always an opportunity for school leadership to meet someone from the IB as part of the experience.
A typical teacher will be asked for or to engage in the following:
- To comply with IB professional development requirements (i.e. having a Category 1, 2 or 3 workshop certificate for the subject and staying up to date with workshops for new Subject Guides)
- Contributing to the school calendar of academic deadlines
- Providing either a programme of study or unit plan
...in addition to all of the usual aspects of IB teaching!
The programme of study or unit plan needs to:
- identify the knowledge, concepts, skills and attitudes to be developed over time
- allow for meaningful student action
- promote students’ awareness of individual, local, national and world issues, including students’ own needs and the needs of others
- incorporate relevant experiences for students
- provide opportunities for reflection on human commonality, diversity and multiple perspectives
- foster development of the IB learner profile attributes
- show opportunities for students to make connections across their learning
- reflect current subject guides
- show TOK integration into the subject.
IB (2023). Guide to programme evaluation.
I'll keep you posted if anything else comes to mind as we get ready to submit the self-assessment and after we receive our final report.