3 minute read
WHY STUDY WITH US?
Next Article
UWC Atlantic is the founding College of the UWC global education movement. Its home is the beautiful 12th Century St Donat’s Castle in South Wales, where students from over 90 countries come for two years to live and work together in a dynamic learning landscape.
UWC is a deliberately diverse, mission-driven international college with a strong commitment to the educational principles of Kurt Hahn, its founder, and a passionate belief in the importance of education as a force for good in the world - to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.
Since 1962 UWC has entrusted students with authentic responsibility and guided them to make appropriate choices and to learn from their mistakes. It is through this trust, responsibility and accountability that students learn that they can make a difference (‘You are needed’) and that through effort and engagement they can achieve far more than they ever imagined (‘There is more in you than you think’).
UWC empowers bridge-builders, systems changers and compassionate global citizens through the delivery of a pioneering and distinctive IB educational model.
WHAT IS THE IBDP?
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is a 21st century globally recognised educational programme, that develops a natural inquiring mindset amongst students aged 16-19. The IB fosters critical thinking, a desire to learn, and prepares students to excel in the future and lead meaningful lives as global citizens.
Our Programme has two parts: the International Baccalaureate curriculum, and our Co-Curricular programme that focuses on a lifelong commitment to service in the community, to collaborative work and social engagement and develops in young people a sense of personal initiative and the skills of leadership. Students are placed into positions of trust, authentic responsibility and decision making, and through action and personal example demonstrate a commitment to making a positive difference in the world.
WHAT MIX DO STUDENTS NEED TO HAVE IN RESPECT TO SUBJECTS?
Students will be following a broad and balanced curriculum which includes a minimum uptake of 6 academic subject choices (three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level); Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS); the Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay. We will always consider each individual’s aspirations and passions in making course selections, and we provide a comprehensive individual academic consultation for all our students.
ACADEMIC SUBJECT CHOICES:
Higher Level Standard Level
GROUP ONE
Language & Literature
English language and literature
Spanish Literature
English language and literature
Spanish Literature
Chinese Literature
Self-Taught
GROUP TWO
Language Acquisition
English B
Spaish B
French B
GROUP THREE
Individuals & Societies
Economics
Geography
Global Politics
History
Social & Cultural Anthropology
English B
Spaish B
French B
French Ab Initio
Economics
Environmental Systems and Societies
Geography
Global Politics
History
Social & Cultural Anthropology
GROUP FOUR
Sciences
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Biology
Chemistry
Environmental Systems and Societies
Physics
The Arts
GROUP FIVE
Mathematics
Analysis and Approaches
Applications and Interpretation
Analysis and Approaches
Applications and Interpretation
GROUP SIX
The Arts
Music
Visual Arts
Music
Visual Arts
The Art Department has two large painting, drawing and design studios, with two computer labs, a print studio, ceramics building and a chromakey special effects VR. It also boasts a Photography and Film studio.
The department has strong links with international galleries, street art exhibitions andc centres. We are closely linked to museums and enjoy the expertise of 4 practicing artists, many also lecturing at universities and Colleges in South Wales and England.
B oth Art and non-Art students have the opportunity over their two years to develop additional art practices, with specialists in Ceramics, Eco Fashion design, Digital Photography, Painting and Printmaking as part of the International Baccalaureate CAS Programme.
Music
The Music Department has recently been refurbished and includes a range of studios, instruments and sound proof practice rooms.
UWC Atlantic Music offers piano, voice (classical and popular/musical theatre), guitar (electric, acoustic, and bass), violin, viola, cello, double bass, piccolo, flute, saxophone, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, drums and percussion, trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba, and organ; however, we also offer other less common instruments and are able to source teachers for most instruments as students require.
Music as an IB subject includes three primary components: research, performance, and composition.
The performance aspect is the focus of our one-to-one instrumental lessons, which take place weekly and are included as part of the course. There are regular opportunities for performance and trips throughout the year.
Composition is also undertaken in lesson time, primarily using Logic and Sibelius in the iMac suite and the recording studio. The course exposes students to many types and genres of music, but at the same time they have a great deal of choice in which areas they would like to focus on in their own work and with a wide range of instruments to chose from.
