Euro-Style Diplomas at Top City School ; Scrap A-Levels, Says College Head
By LAURA SHARPE
THE new American principal of Liverpool College has backed the scrapping of A-Levels in favour of the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB).
Hans Van Mourik Broekman, 41, who will take up his post in June, said the IB was a “superior qualification” which the school was happy to be providing from September.
He is also aiming to copy American success in creating “classless” admission policies by giving money to help more pupils attend the fee-paying school.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Post, Mr Broekman said: “There is turmoil over whether schools should be providing Alevels or diplomas; we’re glad to be offering this superior qualification alongside some A-levels, while other schools wait to hedge their bets. The IB is a more European qualification, and is a great way to get UCAS points as universities place great value on the qualification.
“A-levels are unique to England and force students to specialise in subjects; the IB is very much in keeping with the historic mission of the school of educating pupils better.”
Born in America, Mr Broekman has studied and taught across the UK. After studying at St Andrews University, Scotland, his first teaching post was at Plymouth College. He later taught at Edinburgh Academy, before moving back to the States to teach at schools in Washington DC and North West Arkansas.
He was also the brains behind a project to build a EUR30m school from scratch in Nashville, Tennessee, which is now home to 680 students.
Mr Broekman is moving to Liverpool with his wife and five young children.
He added: “I’m excited about living in Liverpool, people think I’m kidding but it’s a vibrant city and full of culture.”
Addressing the issue of fair and “classless” admission policies in independent schools, Mr Broekman said he hoped the UK would work towards goals set in America.
Fees per academic year at the school stand at pounds 8,280 in the Upper School, pounds 6,735 in the Preparatory School, pounds 5,220 in the Pre-Preparatory School and pounds 5,220 for the nursery.
He said: “They are very much ahead in the US, they introduced charitable status guidelines early on.
“We are already ahead of the Charity Commission findings and help fund a number of pupils at the school, but I want to do more of it.
“In America, 10% of every independent school’s budget must be spent on funding means-tested pupils and 25% of students should receive some form of assistance.
“We’re setting that as our goal. .In the US, parents, former pupils and the community give money to the schools to give out bursaries, maybe that is something we could look at here.”
Mr Broekman outlined his plans for the school which will mean changes to the timetable.Upper school timetables will be longer and unpaid community work will be introduced.
Both changes come with the introduction of the IB, which will mean students studying six subjects and completing 150 hours of creative, active and service activity. Mr Broekman said: “I want to help every student to find a talent and I want to increase the number of co-curriculum activities we offer.”
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