Years 12&13: IB Diploma and BTEC
2025 is an exciting year for Secondary School, as our first cohort will move into Year 12 to begin the IB Diploma in September 2025. Alternatively, students can opt to study for the International BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport instead of the IB programme
What is the International Baccalaureate?
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) is a comprehensive two-year academic course tailored for students aged 16 to 19. It is designed to cultivate learners who possess both breadth and depth of knowledge, fostering intellectual growth alongside emotional, physical, and ethical development.
Renowned for its academic rigour, the full IB Diploma challenges students to excel through
organisation, perseverance, and intellectual engagement. As a pre-university qualification recognised worldwide, the DP not only prepares students for higher education but also equips them with critical thinking skills and a profound knowledge base. Universities highly value these attributes, recognising IB graduates as well-rounded individuals who are well-prepared to succeed in their academic and professional pursuits.
Students engage with six subject groups while completing the DP Core, which is integral to fostering critical thinking, independent learning, and personal growth.
Subject Groups
Students choose one subject from each of the following groups:
- Studies in Language and Literature
- Language Acquisition
- Individuals and Societies
- Sciences
- Mathematics
- The Arts (or an additional subject from another group)
DP Core Components
- Theory of Knowledge (TOK):
A reflective course that investigates the nature of knowledge, encouraging students to question how we know what we claim to know.
- Extended Essay (EE):
A 4,000-word independent research project, offering students the opportunity to conduct in-depth inquiry into a topic of interest.
- Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS):
A framework for experiential learning that nurtures creativity, physical activity, and engagement with the community to support personal and interpersonal development.
Why choose the IB programme?
The DP offers a unique and challenging educational experience for students aged 16–19. It is globally recognised as a gold standard of education, preparing students for success at university and beyond.
IB Learner Profile
Each of the IB's programmes is committed to the development of students according to the IB learner profile. The profile aims to develop learners who are:
- Inquirers
- Knowledgeable
- Thinkers
- Communicators
- Principled
- Open-minded
- Caring
- Risk-takers
- Balanced
- Reflective
What is the BTEC Programme?
BTECs are high-quality, career-focused qualifications grounded in the real world of work. BTEC courses focus on skills-based learning and are designed around themed units. Rather than testing everything together at the end, BTECs are tested throughout the course using assessments based on real-life scenarios. This practical approach allows BTEC learners to develop and apply the knowledge and skills that employers and universities are looking for, and that means there are plenty of opportunities to learn, improve and succeed.
A BTEC is so much more than just a qualification – former BTEC students often say how they continue to apply what they learned on their BTEC course when they progress on to further studies, or starting a job, and as they advance throughout their career. BTECs are all about applying knowledge and skills in real-life scenarios to create career success and develop the employability skills modern businesses need.
BTEC Diploma in Sport
In September 2025, we will welcome our first students into the new BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport. The BTEC is accredited by Pearson Education, a world-leading provider of international qualifications, and is equivalent to three A-levels.
Students studying the BTEC in Sport at Nobel Algarve Almancil will gain real-world experience in the increasingly important field of health and well-being, alongside ample opportunities to play sports and develop practical skills. The very nature of the programme encourages students to grow as learners and to think independently while learning the importance of collaboration and communication.
While many educational programmes around the world (A-Levels, IB, etc.) offer academic routes into higher education, BTEC offers both a pathway into university, as well as providing the skills that allow students to access the workforce upon completion. In addition to this, students can focus on one area of interest, as opposed to studying six academic subjects.
Why choose the BTEC Programme?
“Whether students are preparing for university or the workforce, our dual-pathway approach ensures they can follow the route best aligned with their strengths and aspirations. The IB Diploma and BTEC in Sport offer two distinct but equally valuable educational experiences – each challenging, enriching, and relevant to the world students will enter.”
- David Jenkins, Head of School, Nobel Algarve Almancil