Somerville House to teach International Baccalaureate at multiple levels

A prestigious Brisbane private school is on the verge of increasing its range of academic opportunities to its students to “beyond what is available to any other school” of its kind.

Somerville House has applied to become Queensland’s sixth school to teach the International Baccalaureate program to both junior and senior students. Picture: Liam Kidston

A prestigious Brisbane private school has applied to become Queensland’s sixth school to teach the International Baccalaureate program to both junior and senior students.

Somerville House plans to switch to only teaching the International Baccalaureate program for Pre-Prep to Year 6, and then offer the choice to Year 11 and 12 students between the traditional ATAR pathway, or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

The IB is an alternative to the traditional Queensland Certificate of Education, with a maximum possible score of 45 which can then be converted to an ATAR equivalent result.

There are 19 Queensland schools that offer the IB program at one level, or multiple.

The levels are Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (DP), or Career-Related Programme (CP).

Somerville House, South Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

A Somerville House spokeswoman confirmed the IB program would take over the Pre-Prep to Year 6 curriculum, and then be a choice for senior students.

“Somerville House will continue to teach to the Australian Curriculum (Prep to 10), but for Prep to Year 6 this will be taught through the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme,” she said.

“For our Pre-Prep students, the Queensland Kindergarten Curriculum will also be taught through the IB PYP framework.

“Year 11 and 12 students will be offered a dual pathway – either the IB Diploma Programme or the QCE allowing students to choose a pathway best suited to their learning styles and to open up more opportunities for university studies.”

There are only five other schools in Queensland that offer the IB PYP and DP – Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie), Calamvale Community College, St Peter’s Lutheran College, Somerset College, and John Paul College.

The 125-year-old independent girls school in South Brisbane said it hoped to offer the IB program to Year 11 students in 2026, pending approval.

“Somerville House is renowned for its academic rigour, and the introduction of this program will increase the opportunities available to our students beyond what is available in any other girls’ school in Queensland,” the Prep-Year 12 school said.

“The inclusion of the DP program places Somerville House in line with some of the most reputable academic girls’ schools, nationally and internationally, preparing students for success at university and beyond.

“The IB programs offer significant professional development opportunities for teachers with access to extensive support and resources, additional qualifications and global connections.

“This is a very exciting time for Somerville House as we embark on empowering our students to think critically and creatively, seek multiple perspectives, be active learners and adapt to an ever-changing world with resilience and consideration of others.”

The 19 Queensland schools which offer the IB program: Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie), Brisbane South State Secondary College, Calamvale Community College, Cleveland District State High School, Hills International College, IES College, Indooroopilly State High School, John Paul College, Moreton Bay Boys’ College, Moreton Bay College, Mountain Creek State High School, Queensland Academies Creative Industries Campus, Queensland Academy for Health Sciences, Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology, Rochedale State School, Somerset College, St Andrew’s Lutheran College, St Peter’s Lutheran College, Townsville Grammar School.