Brentwood’s IB Students Shine as High Achievers & Global Citizens

Students at Brentwood School are celebrating another outstanding set of International Baccalaureate Diploma results.

Established in 1968 to foster open and enlightened minds, the IB Diploma is now taught in almost 5,000 schools across 153 countries and is one of the most respected educational programmes worldwide. The maximum number of points an individual student can achieve in the IB Diploma is 45, and the worldwide average in 2023 was around 32.

The Class of 2025 at Brentwood have returned an average of 37.3 points (prior to any remarks), which is likely to maintain the school’s position – now firmly established over a number of years – as one of the Top 10 IB Schools in the UK. Last year’s worldwide average points total was 32.7.

Furthermore, 28% of the cohort scored 40 points or more: to put that into context, usually only around 11% of students worldwide reach or exceed this total.

Within that group of elite performers, two scored the maximum of 45 points, an achievement matched by only around 0.3% of students worldwide: Achinta K, who has had a busy year serving as Secretary General of the School’s Model United Nations Society as well as running the London Marathon, is looking forward to studying Economics, Finance and Data Science at Imperial College; and Sofia S will also be joining some of the brightest and best students from around the world when she begins her Law degree at the London School of Economics.

‘This is the perfect end to the most amazing 15 years,” said a delighted Achinta. ‘My parents couldn’t be happier!’

Sofia, a Mill Hill boarder and one of four students off to study Law at some of the most prestigious universities in the UK, added: ‘I am absolutely shocked and surprised but so happy.’

In typical Brentwood fashion, many of our IB students also managed to involve themselves in the wider life of the School while maintaining such high academic standards. Chloe L, who achieved 41 points and a place to read Biomedical Science at the University of Bath, co-captained our successful Fencing Team, competing as one of the top Schools in the UK and still found time to play a significant role in our impressive musical programme as pianist, violinist and drummer. Martha M, one of three students who will be embarking on a degree that includes a language, has also played a significant part in School music over her seven years at Brentwood, and was one of two students (along with Achinta) who wrote their Extended Essay in a foreign language, securing the top grade in the process.

Perhaps most pleasing of all, however, is the fact that so many of the IB Class of 2025 have achieved outstanding academic results alongside leadership positions they have discharged with such distinction. Elsie P, who achieved 43 points and is hoping to read Law at Cambridge, was both House Captain and the leading Cadet across all three services in her final year at Brentwood; Nicolò P (36 points) led Hough, our boys’ boarding house, and Miryem D (38 points) was House Captain of Mill Hill, our girls’ boarding house. Cristina V-A, one of our Deputy Heads of School, was ‘over the moon’ after securing an impressive 41 points and is heading off to Amsterdam to study PPLE (Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics), while 6 other students from our IB cohort served as Senior Prefects during their Upper Sixth year.

Further illustrating the international appeal of the IB Diploma, another three boarders will continue their studies at prestigious universities overseas; Shuyi W has a place at EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland, to study Hospitality Management; Irfan B is going to University in Sarajevo to study Medicine, and Joud E-W holds places at Melbourne and Hong Kong to study Mechanical Engineering.

Mr Jonathan Barfield Moore, Deputy Head Academic, said: ‘The IB Diploma has a reputation for being a demanding pathway; IB students at Brentwood work hard and these results show the benefits of pushing yourself and striving for excellence. At a time when some are questioning the merits of independent education, the IB experience adds value to our students through character development as well as academic success. If asked, “Is it worth it?”, I think the answer is irrefutably, “Yes”. Our students should be proud of their achievements and can look forward with confidence to bright futures.’

Acting Director of IB, Mrs Alexandra Roberts, added: ‘It has been a pleasure to support this year’s IB cohort and to see their work ethic and engagement reflected in their results. Their determination and the breadth of subjects studied between them is testament to the diverse interests of the cohort, emphasised by the variety of courses they are intending to study. I have no doubt that they will harness the skills and knowledge they have learned and be able to utilise it as global citizens. We wish them the very best beyond Brentwood and I would like to congratulate them on their successes within the school. ’

Mr Tim Sellers, Director of Sixth Form, commented on the success of this year’s IB cohort: ‘‘We are incredibly proud of their attainment and all the fantastic grades that have been achieved. Their hard work and commitment has been reflected in all that they do. To see all that our IB students have contributed to our Sixth Form and wider school community over the past two years, in so many different areas of school life, is so impressive. They have been role models and leaders and embody the values we hold.  We look forward to hearing of their future successes across such a diverse range of different academic disciplines both in the UK and across the world!’

Headmaster Michael Bond completed the congratulatory messages: ‘Brentwood’s commitment to the IB Diploma is testament to our global outlook and the belief that today’s students will be tomorrow’s problem-solvers. We are proud of the academic achievements of our outgoing IB cohort, of course, but even more so of the positive contributions they have made to our community in terms of both leadership and service. They will go on to achieve a great deal across many different fields, but most importantly, they will do so with the intention to make a positive difference to the world that sits at the heart of the IB Diploma. My congratulations go to our students, and my thanks to all those who have worked so hard to support them during their Sixth Form years.’