IBDP Authorization Announcement

Dear Staff, Students, Parents, and El Alsson Community,

We are proud to announce that El Alsson American International School is now an International Baccalaureate® (IB) World School. We have received authorization to deliver the IB Diploma Programme (DP) in Grades 11 and 12, and we plan for our first DP cohort to start in September 2023. The authorization as an IB World School allows the addition of the IB Diploma Programme to our High School academic offerings, allowing the choice between completing the IB Diploma or the American High School Diploma.Founded in 1968, the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) is a non-profit foundation that offers challenging educational programmes for students aged 3 to 19 to help develop their intellectual, personal, emotional, and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world.

The IBDP is a rigorous, well rounded programme for 16-18 year olds which is recognized and respected by leading universities and employers around the world, including Egypt. The programme aims to develop a breadth and depth of knowledge in students, as well as focusing on developing positive character traits and international mindedness. The IBDP curriculum is made up of six subject groups and the DP core, which comprises the Theory of Knowledge course, Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) programme, and the Extended Essay. Through the subject groups and the DP core, students connect the learning and thinking within subjects, reflect on what knowledge is, complete independent research and inquiry projects, and undertake a project which often involves community service.

We would like to take this moment to thank the hard work that all of our High School staff have put into ensuring we were successful in the lengthy and rigorous authorization process, which has included significant planning, educator training and the development of IB curriculum in all subject areas. We would also like to recognize the work that Mark Wisniewski, our Assistant Head of Teaching & Learning and IBDP Coordinator, put into this authorization process, as well as our IBDP core team of Yasmine Adel (CAS Coordinator) and Rehab Esmail (Extended Essay Coordinator).

For further information about the IBDP, and how it will benefit the students of El Alsson American International School, we will be running a series of Grade 10 parent/student information sessions beginning in early November, and for other grade levels in January 2023. Information about the IBDP can be found by clicking on the IB DP Curriculum website. We will be updating our website over the coming weeks to provide you with more information on the IBDP at El Alsson.

Sincerely,

Soumaya Amr, Colin Rogers and Karim Rogers

Directors

 

Allison Fleet

American School Principal

Exam Board independence announcement

El Alsson has recently been awarded independent status as an examination centre in Egypt by Pearson Edexcel and OxfordAQA examination boards and the Ministry of Education. This is a significant achievement for the school and will allow greater freedom of subject choice, resources and exam administration and will allow greater personalisation of exam courses and pathways for study for students. El Alsson is one of only a handful of schools in Egypt to be granted this independent status, and we are looking forward to working directly with both examination boards from now on. The school will also maintain its relationship with Cambridge Assessment International Examinations via our link with the British Council.