This paper presents a critical content analysis of the curriculum development process within the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) using the Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) framework. As a part of the globally recognised International Baccalaureate (IB) framework, the IBPYP has undergone significant growth. The…

Moving beyond both a neoliberal as well as a 'heroic' conception of how the International Baccalaureate (IB) might 'make a better world', this paper focuses on the transformative potentiality of IBDP classroom pedagogy from the perspective of an experienced and critically minded educator, whose praxis has evolved across more than three decades of…

The purpose of this article is to contribute to discussion as to whether the Primary Years Programme (PYP) of the International Baccalaureate (IB) meets the needs of early childhood (3-5 years old) learners. The research underpinning the article adopted a mixed method approach comprising both a qualitative and a quantitative framework located in…

This study examines the construction and meaning of International Baccalaureate (IB) schools as manifested by schools in four locations: Chicago, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates. Through analysis of schools' websites, we identify three major approaches towards constructing the schools' image: globally acknowledged quality,…

Academic outcomes of post-16 education can be understood in terms of their value for gaining access to university and, at a time when global educational mobility is growing, internationally recognised university entrance qualifications may be considered a form of personal capital. However, narrowly measured outcomes may not reflect the breadth of…

Considerable debate has revolved around the question of what constitutes an international school, focusing on attributes such as number of nations represented by the student body, stated curricular goals, and school culture or mission. Less attention has been paid to how "international" is lived within these schools. This article…

International Baccalaureate (IB) Directors of international schools command a paradoxical space of progressive futures, cloaking injustice and whiteness. This is enacted daily through policy, recruitment, teaching and remuneration which privileges the empowered, exploits the marginalised and thereby delivers a critical education of questionable…

The study described in this article highlights the complexity of service-learning efforts and community engagement pursuits. It is based on 6.5 months of qualitative fieldwork in International Baccalaureate international schools in Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa. The article unpacks the understandings and skills involved in service-learning…

The higher degree of global mobility and connectivities within contemporary societies has led to increasing cultural diversity within school student cohorts. In turn, the human activities and interactions within the territories and boundaries of a school have become increasingly complex. During a 2017 study of how transcultural capabilities are…

This paper proposes a curriculum design and suggests some evaluation processes of a bridging preparatory English programme for Chinese learners joining the international education system in a school in southern China. Taking into consideration the contextual educational background of the learners and the desired language and social skills that the…

International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes are growing rapidly worldwide, driven in part by their global reputation and concept-driven, inquiry-based approach to teaching and learning. This thematic review of a range of literature sources examines the impact of IB programmes on teaching and learning, highlighting trends, challenges, and benefits.…

This study aimed to involve International Baccalaureate (IB) teachers in formative assessment and summative evaluation of a continuing professional development (CPD) programme designed to facilitate a student-centred, process-focused approach in which the 'Approaches to Learning' (ATL) element of the IB curriculum takes a central role. Given its…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to obtain insights into how creativity is (a) demonstrated in coursework and assignments, (b) addressed and fostered in the classroom, (c) affected by standardized testing, and (d) impacted by culture. These purposes were achieved by gathering qualitative data from a sample of 8 teachers and 8…

This article provides a critical review of the way that the International Baccalaureate (IB) promotes international education and international mindedness through the IB Learner Profile. While discussing theories of values and attitudes, and the teaching of values and theories of value acquisition, the paucity of such topics in IB texts is noted.…

The International Baccalaureate (IB) organisation, through its three programmes (Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and pre-university Diploma Programme), aims to develop students who contribute to a more peaceful world through promoting intercultural understanding and respect. The aim of the study on which this article is based was…