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Dear ParentsWe have been asked by some parents for more information about the IEB to inform their decision aroundwhether this is the right system for their children.Here is a summary of answers to some of the most important questions we have been asked. THE IEBIYtoisurnocthitlhde’s tfiumtuerteo:   compromise!What is the IEB? Why the IEB?The IEB stands for the Independent At Elkanah House we believe in whole-child education that en-Examinations Board.  It is NOT a dif- sures that children fulfill their greatest individual potential. Ourferent curriculum, but a different and ultimate goal is to set them up for future success in their livesindependent method of assessing pupils. after school, whether they choose to work, or study further.  The IEB believes that it is in theassessment of the curriculum that The IEB gives schoolsthe true worth and value of the • more autonomy to direct learning in meaningful ways;curriculum as an educating tool can • assessment methods that integrate multiple skills so thatbe exploited, hence the IEB motto:Assessment Matters. learners develop deeper thinking and problem solving skills;“The way in which a question is asked will • advanced programmes in Mathematics and English:either encourage the opening up of young • teacher empowerment through subject conferences andminds to see new ideas and possibilities, clusters, and peer group interaction to ensure bestor it will focus the mind narrowly onto the practice.facts taught and presumably learnt during • a well run and professional final examination processthe year. The approach in assessment with integrity.can either offer learners an opportunity toexpress their own opinions and show that The specific assessments and related services delivered andthey have used sound thinking skills and a administered by the IEB to schools are,reliable knowledge base to come to their • The National Senior Certificate (Gr 12)conclusions, or at the other end of the • Advanced Programme Mathematics (Gr 12)scale, it will encourage the re-gurgitation • Advanced Programme English (Gr12)of learnt opinions.” • Core skills tests in Gr 6 and Gr 9 • The Australian Council of Educational ResearchAnne Oberholzer, CEO IEB. interntional benchmarking tests in Mathematics, Science and English from Gr 3 to Gr 10. • Other subject specific assessments at other levelsThe IEB is recognised by South Africa’s top educational brains as being a superior system, and as in all decisionsrelated to the welfare of your children, we cannot compromise, and have chosen the best education systemavailable to us in South Africa.

Is the IEB a different qualification? Is the IEB harder?No, pupils writing their Grade 12 final exams still attain No. In fact, for many learners, memorizing anda National Senior Certificate (NSC). However, they recalling facts is much harder than a systemattain this through a different examination, administered which imbeds subject knowledge throughand marked by the IEB. exploration and multiple learning styles. The IEB is not harder if you are taught in the IEB way.TheWould it be better for a less IEB examination is moderated by Umalusi, theacademic child to rather choose a organisation that oversees all Grade 12non-IEB school? examinations, to ensure that both sets of exams are equitable, i.e. that they are at the same stan-The IEB caters well to children of almost all academic dard and that one is not harder than the other.abilities, and does not prejudice less academic chil-dren.  To the contrary, the teaching process oftenengages children in a more interesting way so that theyconnect more deeply with a subject.  When childrenare interested in a subject, can explore it deeply andare able to give their perspectives on it, rather than justrecalling facts, they are far more likely to do well in it.  This is important to us because Elkanah House is aninclusive school; we do not screen our applicants onacademic merit.  We want our students to fulfill theirindividual potential by learning to work with peopleof all capabilities and walks of life.  That is the reality oftheir future and it prepares them well.Are IEB students disadvantaged in Will students get bettertheir University applications? matric results at a non-IEB school?No, definitely not.  IEB students, who work hard will No, IEB students have learnt to master the IEBdefinitely earn as many ‘points’ as an equivalent child at methods well through our teaching practices.  Bya non-IEB school. In fact, they may actually be advan- the time they write their final exams they are astaged in their application process: well prepared as any other student sitting the gov- ernment examinations.All universities make students write a National Bench-  marking Test (NBT)*, which is weighted heavily in their “I have no doubt that the IEB is the better educa-entrance criteria.  IEB students achieve far better results tional system.  Students have to be engaged within the NBT because they are so well prepared to think more challenging questions and they develop theirat a university level.  As universities are placing far thinking.  But students don’t do worse on the IEB.higher weightings on NBTs, particularly in high demand The Umalusi moderator ensures that the examsfaculties, IEB students are at a distinct advantage to are equitable.  All of my research from working atobtain the university entrance of their choice. the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy where we switched to the IEB demonstrated that studentsTo give you an example of university entrance criteria: rose to the challenge of the IEB and did just as well in their exams.  Our group of schools chose the* The NBTs were implemented by universities in South Africa as IEB because it allows us more autonomy to enricha standardised test to measure a university applicant’s ability to the curriculum and really offer a good educa-transfer understanding of Academic Literacy, Quantitative Literacy, tion.”  Head of Academics at a National Chain ofand Mathematics to the demands of tertiary coursework. Schools.

Do IEB students do better at University?Yes. A study carried out in 2007 at the University of Cape Town (UCT) which looked at the success rate ofIEB students over a 3-year period noted that 25% of graduates at UCT came from IEB schools, a far higherpro-rated percentage. In the same study, it was determined that over a 3-year period 98% of IEB learnersgraduated or were accepted for further study. Given that most universities experience over a 50% dropout incertain faculties, this research clearly demonstrates the relative quality of IEB educational methods.   “Schools have indicated to the IEB that parents Our past pupils often attest to how much the IEBchoose IEB schools because of the IEB school leaving approach has helped them at tertiary level, spe-examination which encourages the production of stu- cifically how it has prepared them for academicdents, well-prepared for the rigors of tertiary study”, writing and the advantages they have in having already been exposed to practical science, biologyAnne Oberholzer, CEO IEB. and fieldwork.

Does the IEB give my child one should recognise that sound academic knowledgeany advantage for international is but the foundation for success on such a level ofuniversities? competition. In addition, the successful applicant needs to possess the intellectual dexterity which is the markUniversities around the globe benchmark each of the exceptional student, and which allows for easyinternational school exit assessment method in transition to a largely unfamiliar educational system,order to determine the value of the marks.  The and for the development of knowledge in an interna-IEB is understood to be South Africa’s most tional setting.” Adele Rossouw, a former IEB learn-internationally comparable education system. er, accepted into 5 overseas institutions, and whoMost international universities insist on inde- chose Yale.pendent assessment tests, and as such the IEB IEB candidates have readily been accepted intocontinues to successfully market itself overseas overseas universities in a number of countriesand collaborates with overseas agencies, e.g. the including the USA, UK and Australia, and haveAustralian Council of Educational Research, on successfully completed their studies. In addition, inbenchmarking, as well as commissioning bench- August 2010, the IEB received the following in-marking studies with overseas agencies, e.g. the formation from Derek Macleod, the InternationalUK NARIC.   Officer for Middle East and Africa for the University of Edinburgh: “Following a long conversation with“It should be noted that an IEB National Senior colleagues of mine in our Admissions team fro ourCertificate is not sufficient to exempt South African College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, we’veapplicants from the additional entrance examina- finally been given notification that the IEB NSC hastions required by most overseas universities.This is been approved for entry to our course in that College,not because a South African IEB matric represents as well as already being accepted for entry into ourany form of substandard education, but simply other Colleges in Humanities and Social Sciences, andbecause of the necessity of a benchmarking mech- Science and Engineering. This development is the firstanism by which to evaluate top candidates from change in some time to our entry requirements foraround the world. Bearing in mind the interna- our Medicine (MBChB) course as up until now, onlytional level of competition which applicants to, for A-levels, Scottish Highers, the IB and Irish Leavingexample, an American Ivy League university face, Certificates were accepted for this course.”Which Schools do the IEB in South Africa?A full list is available on the IEB website, however locally St Cyprians, Somerset College and Bridge House areIEB Schools. In Gauteng, most of the independent schools such as Roedean, St Andrews, St Johns, St Stithiansare IEB schools. Many of the well known schools in KZN and the Eastern Cape, such as Kingswood College,St Andrews, DSG, Michaelhouse and Hilton College are IEB schools. It is of particular note that the largenational school groups such as Curro, Reddam and schools in the Advtech Group, such as Crawford College,have opted for the IEB too.Some non-IEB schools may say that they are teaching “in the IEB way’, but that is not possible because IEBteachers have exclusive access to national subject conferences and regional cluster meetings and benefit fromcontinued idea sharing and professional development.We have elected not to write the government assessed National Senior Certificate because we need to com-pare ourselves to the best in the country – and the IEB schools are among some of the best in terms of theiracademic standards and the ability of their students.