IB or the HSC? Understanding the difference

The International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma is a standardised two-year university preparation course undertaken in years 11 and 12 as an alternative to the HSC. Established in Switzerland in 1968, the IB stresses critical reasoning and breadth of knowledge over specialisation and rote learning. Its raison d’etre is to prepare students for success in a globalised […]

Why school choice matters

Australia has one of the highest rates of private schooling in the OECD. Approximately 35 per cent of students attend a non-government school, either a Catholic systemic institution — 20 per cent — or an independent school — 15 per cent. In NSW, the figure is slightly higher. More than 16 per cent of students […]