Programme
Diploma Programme (DP)
Overview
The Diploma Programme is a challenging comprehensive two-year curriculum, for students in Grade 11 and 12. It leads to a qualification that is widely recognized by the world’s leading universities, because the programme aims to develop students who have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge and who flourish intellectually, emotionally and ethically.
A limited number of spots are available for intake at Grade 11 each year.
A limited number of spots are available for intake at Grade 11 each year.
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Core Subject Groups
- Studies in Language and Literature – English Language and Literature and Mandarin A Language and Literature
- Language Acquisition – French, Mandarin and Spanish
- Individuals and Societies – Business & Management, Geography and History
- Sciences – Biology, Chemistry and Physics
- Mathematics – Analysis and Approaches (HL/SL) and Application and Interpretation (SL)
- The Arts – Visual Art, Theatre and Film
- Online Courses - French ab initio SL, Psychology (HL/SL) and Economics (HL/SL)
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Core components
- Theory of Knowledge - a course exploring the nature, acquisition and uses of knowledge in and across disciplines
- Extended Essay – a research project of the student’s own choosing
- Creativity, Activity and Service – activities and projects that expand students experiences in creative endeavours, physical activity in individual and team sports and in the service to others both locally and overseas
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Assessment
In each course, the students complete internal and external assessments. These range from examinations, research projects, essays, laboratory experiments, fieldwork projects and other hands-on activities. Student results are determined by performance against set standards, not by each student's position in the overall rank order. The grading of student work is moderated through a world-wide system of examiners and is consistent across the globe.
Highlights
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Pride and Confidence in Quality of Work
Throughout the DP, students have the opportunity to share and showcase their work to classmates, students, parents and outside community members. In June, the students have a Theory of Knowledge Day where they present their work and in the spring, students display their talents at the Visual Arts Exhibition during Arts Week. -
Wide range of courses offered
St. John's School offers a very wide range of courses for the size of the school. All subjects are offered at Standard and Higher levels, which is unique in BC. St. John's School offers five humanities courses, two language A courses (English and Mandarin) and three second language options in its DP.
St. John's School offers students the opportunity to take a bilingual diploma. Students can take an English course and also study their mother tongue at the same level through the school supported “self-taught” option. -
Field work and hands on experience
Hands on learning and field work are key components of the course work at St. John’s. For example, Science students frequently learn through experiments often designing their own investigations. They also head out on a three-day trip to design their own project combining all three sciences – Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Students become critical thinkers who are able to analyze and evaluate situations and issues, come up with new ideas and consider different perspectives.
Our Geography students visit various local communities, conduct surveys and questionnaires and present their findings and proposed solutions. Business students use the case study approach to study and solve challenges for real businesses from different scenarios around the world. Second Language study focuses on the real world communication and topical issues. It also explores the cultural variations in the world of speakers of the target language. -
Results
Our students have earned results well above the world average for the past four consecutive years.
