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Second year of success in the IB Diploma

06 July 2013

The second year of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma at King Edward's School has produced another set of outstanding results.

The maximum score of 45 points was gained by two boys, Aaron Hundle and Sam Kim, a score achieved by only 108 students worldwide out of over 127,000 that took the IB Diploma in 2013. A further seven dropped only one point to achieve 44 points, over one quarter of the cohort attained scores of 40 points or above, higher than the equivalent of four A*s at A-level, and 100% of candidates passed the Diploma. 18 boys will be taking up places at Oxford and Cambridge, including seven who will study Medicine, the highest number of Oxbridge medics the school has achieved for decades.

John Claughton, Chief Master of King Edward's School, said: "This is a remarkable achievement and I am thrilled by the performance of our boys, in only our second year of IB. For two boys to once again have achieved the top mark of 45 points and so many to have gained over 40 points is a great credit to both the boys and the teachers. These results mean that a very large proportion of our boys will be accepted by the best universities for the most demanding subjects. Aaron and Sam are particularly to be congratulated: you have to get a lot right to get 45.

"At King Edward's we made the radical decision to replace A-levels with IB because it provides a really challenging, rigorous and broad education. As we come to the end of our third year of teaching IB, we can see ever more clearly the value of the education it provides. The school has always been amongst the very best academic schools in the country and now we can claim to be amongst the best IB schools."

Sam Kim, who achieved the maximum 45 points, said: "I never thought I'd do this well. All credit really goes to my teachers who put up with me for two never-ending years! Thanks to everyone who gave me support."

Aaron Hundle, who also achieved 45 points, said: "It's absolutely brilliant. Doing the IB was an amazing experience and I'd like to thank the school for giving me the opportunity to undertake such a broad and stimulating diploma."

Both 17-year-old Aaron from Staffordshire and 18-year-old Sam from Birmingham will read Medicine at the University of Oxford, at New College and St John's College respectively.

In September 2010, King Edward's replaced A-levels with the IB Diploma for its Sixth Form provision. The IB Diploma comprises six subjects within which pupils must study English, Mathematics, a science, a language and a humanities subject. Pupils also complete an extended essay on any subject, study Theory of Knowledge and undertake a range of extra-curricular activity and community service.