School gives project away

CAIRNS State High School is planning to scrap a prestigious academic program after a less than adequate take-up.

Principal Chris Zilm has written to parents and said he had been reviewing “emergent and ongoing issues connected with the delivery of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme”.

“There are significant concerns which therefore leads me to the difficult conclusion that we are not able to sustain the program into the future,” he said. “The school will fully support current Year 11 and 12 students engaging in the IBDP to achieve the best they can be as they complete the qualification until the end of 2021.

“We have experienced declining enrolment/interest and significant dropout rate over several years. In 2020 we have 21 (of the 240) Year 12 students in the program and 22 (of the 302) Year 11s.”

Mr Zilm said the low numbers meant the school couldn’t offer a range of choice within the subjects in the program and often had to combine students of different abilities and grades.

The introduction of the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank system also made the IB program irrelevant.

“In 2020 the first Year 12s will graduate in the new system,” Mr Zilm said. “The ATAR is a university entrance ranking which is valid for every university in Queensland, across Australia and internationally.

“The standard of learning in Queensland Certificate of Education’s general subjects is a similar level as to the standard level IBDP subjects (and) … both credentials are driven by the individual’s performance.”

School fees also did not cover the costs of the program.

“The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is an excellent course. It does run successfully in many schools across the world, albeit predominately high fee-paying international expat schools or private schools,” Mr Zilm said.

“The sustainability of the IBDP has been a concern since before my arrival in the school. Since I commenced as leader of the school in 2016, I have advocated for the program, allocated significant financial and HR resources to the program.

“On balance, however, my view is that program is not sustainable.”

... WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE PROGRAM INTO THE FUTURE