Hey there, super-parents! Choosing the right curriculum for your child’s future can feel like a high-stakes game. Two popular internationally renowned options in India – Cambridge International and IB (International Baccalaureate) – have both shiny reputations. But which suits your little bright spark? Let’s try to break it down in a way that’s easy to understand!
Championing Cambridge: Structured, Diversified, Flexible, Strong curriculum
- Focus on the Basics: Cambridge offers clear, subject-based curriculum. Think strong foundations, e.g. in Maths, Science, English – the building blocks for success.
- Choice & Flexibility: With a wide range of subjects (over 70!), your child can explore their interests while getting a well-rounded education.
- Recognized worldwide: Cambridge qualifications are respected by universities around the globe, opening doors more easily for future studies/careers Internationally
- Smoother Transition: The Cambridge curriculum is offered across different stages (Primary, Lower Secondary, secondary) providing continuity in learning.
The IB Advantage: Holistic Horizons curriculum
- Thinkers & Doers: IB goes beyond textbooks, encouraging critical thinking, research, and real-world application of knowledge.
- Global Citizens: The IB program fosters intercultural understanding and social responsibility, preparing your child for a diverse, changing world.
- Holistic Development: IB’s Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) component ensures a balance between academics, creativity, and giving back to the community.
- University Edge: The challenging IB Diploma is highly regarded by top universities, potentially giving your child an edge in admissions.
Finding the Perfect Fit
There’s no single “better” option! Here’s a cheat sheet to help you decide:
- Structured Learner? Cambridge’s subject-based blend of teacher directed and learner researched/explored approach might be ideal.
- Independent Thinker? The IB program’s focus on critical thinking could be a great fit.
- Well-Rounded Development? Both programs frankly offer this approach.
- Both Cambridge International & IB curriculum focus on application & skills-based learning – rather than the conventional Indian boards who do focus more on acquiring knowledge. So, both international curriculums develop research skills, develop communication skills & foster better collaboration among children by working on projects, and shifting mindset from acquiring knowledge to mastering the skills of acquiring it.
- EXPENSES/FEES. Cambridge & IB curriculum International schools are relatively both somewhat expensive in India – but bear in mind that IB Board schools are likely to be far more expensive– as much as 100% or 200% more expensive compared to Cambridge International schools in cities like GURUGRAM (SO, SPEND TIME ON IB SCHOOLS ONLY IF BUDGETS ARE NO CONSTRAINTS)
- IB SCHOOLS ARE USUALLY THE MOST EXPENSIVE SCHOOLS IN INDIA
BOTH CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL & IB BOARDS GIVE EQUAL WEIGHTAGE TO ALL SUBJECT GROUPS, WHICH ARE MAINLY:
HUMANITIES = COMMERCE = SCIENCES = LANGUAGES = CREATIVE
– while Indian boards like CBSE focus bit more on sciences and may be better option to consider if your goal is simply to just get into engineering/medicine colleges or a regular arts /commerce college “in India”.
HEREIN BELOW IS PERHAPS ONE IMPORTANT ANGLE TO REFLECT ON:
Remember:
- Talk to your child’s school staff and educators. As the school & its educators /culture is often times, far more important than just evaluating the curriculum or physical infrastructure of the school.
- Consider your own family culture, perspectives & child’s strengths, interests, and learning style – and what will be important in the future.
- Both Cambridge and IB are top-notch curriculums, so the best choice is the one that empowers your child to thrive!
- Choose a school closer to your home. No point spending extra hours daily to travel to a so called fancier curriculum school – and depriving your child of precious hours ( as travel time wastage can add up to a lot each year), to instead reflect, practice, play & learn better.
- Choose IB if you are very clear to send your child overseas only. Cambridge is a better choice if you are looking for both the options – of doing college in India’s fast improving colleges network or study overseas post school.
Bonus Tip: Don’t forget to factor in your family’s needs! Both programs can be academically demanding, so consider your child’s workload and your ability to support them – and try to evaluate if the school & its teachers give you confidence of providing adequate support to your child & for you to partner in the same in both these demanding curriculums.
But what’s the difference in terms of number of Schools for each curriculum?
Let’s unpack some relevant school numbers in India & overseas!
- Cambridge International curriculum is a globally recognised – delivered @ over 10,000 schools across 160+ countries (including 650 schools in India).
- IB curriculum is delivered across 233 schools in India, and 5700 schools Internationally across 160 countries
- Cambridge International Curriculum is British in origin and IB is based at Switzerland.
Cambridge International is thus a more popular curriculum in India v/s IB – and access to additional support (tuition) is usually easier for Cambridge Curriculum, although in the better school’s tuition support may not be required at all for most students – owing to lesser number of children/class and far lesser number of sections/grades.
And India’s new education policy (NEP) has borrowed a lot of best practices from International Boards & Global best practices – which are now under roll out across Indian curriculum’s too gradually.
The Sixth Element School: Where Cambridge Meets India
Reason why we chose Cambridge International curriculum is because the blend of teacher directed as well as learner self-driven learning seems to be more relevant for kids from Indian families.
The Sixth Element School – is duly registered as a Cambridge International school with a global registration number IA 892
Ready to see what The Sixth Element School has to offer? Schedule a visit and see for yourself why it could be the perfect launchpad for your child’s bright, global future!
We started the first Sixth Element School 20 years back in 2004 @ Gurgaon.
Our schools & afternoon daycare centres are unique, exclusive compact neighbourhood green campuses – where a lot of outdoor activities & experiential learning (physical – not digital) takes place with children in most weeks. Smaller campus – with only 2 sections – limited children, allow us to focus on each child’s growth & development properly. We are especially proud of our high quality, committed teachers – the very backbone of any good learning environment.
We raise well-rounded future ready individuals who are prepared to face the challenges of the world with confidence and integrity – with the right methods and practices. Specifically our foundational fitness in partnership with xfit kids , our gym, our green playgrounds and great coaches – give a great foundational fitness and start to our school kids.
A good understanding and partnership between parents and schools is key to nurturing the future leaders of Gurugram, our great nation and our planet.
THE SIXTH ELEMENT SCHOOL WE BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF CATALYSING & ENSURING “THE SIXTH ELEMENT -i.e. THE JOY OF LEARNING” FOR EVERY CHILD. OUR CURRICULAM IS BENCHMARKED WITH THE BEST INTERNATIONALLY, WHILE DRAWING FROM OUR VERY OWN CORE ANCIENT INDIAN BEST PRACTICES SUCH AS THE GURU SHISHYA PARAMPARA) & VALUES. THANKS TO ITS 18+ YEARS EXPERIENCE AND ITS CORE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES DRAWN FROM PIAGET, VYGOSTKY AND BRUNER – WHICH IS INCIDENTALLY THE RESOURCE POOL – FOR THE FOUNDATIONAL YEARS SCHOOL CURRICULUM OF THE UPGRADED NEW EDUCATION (NEP) UNDER ROLL OUT IN INDIA NOW.
We now have Cambridge curriculum certification, to enable our children to evolve globally as well as “do well” in India
So, we are now a unique 100% Cambridge International School.
Gurgaon’s exclusive, unique, green International school.
the Sixth Element School
the school children love