**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
WIS Celebrates May/June 2023 Examination Results
Windhoek International School (WIS) is proud to share the remarkable accomplishments of our students in the 2023 International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations.
May/June 2023 International Baccalaureate Diploma Results
Congratulations to the WIS Class of 2023, who have achieved an average of 30.58 points in the IBDP including the highest ever marks for the International Baccalaureate Core Bonus Points - where students averaged 1.83 for their IB Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge bonus points. The Class of 2023 achieved a pass rate of 81.25% as compared to an IB World Average of 79.67%.
Rick Fitzpatrick, IB Diploma Programme Coordinator of Windhoek International School, said, “This achievement by the Class of 2023 is a testament to the quality of WIS teachers, the support of WIS parents, and the resilience of this talented cohort of students who overcame the disruption of a pandemic to bond as a class and achieve these good marks.” The Class of 2023 have now gone on to further study at such prestigious universities and colleges as the University of Calgary (Canada), Leiden University (Netherlands), Stellenbosch University (South Africa), and the Texas Tech University (USA).
The International Baccalaureate Diploma is a demanding two-year course of studies that students undertake at Windhoek International School (WIS) in Grades 11 and 12. Research shows that the IB curriculum contains the greatest depth and breadth of competencies required for employability in the middle-21st Century. Unlike many IB schools, WIS is inclusive in our admissions (i.e. non-selective) and we are therefore all the more proud of our annual success with a curriculum that is recognized in over 100 countries to be the gold standard as the best and most rigorous preparation for university entry.
May/June 2023 Cambridge IGCSE Results
Whereas the IB Diploma is the Grade 12 leaving examination, WIS students sit the IGCSE examination at the end of Grade 10. In 2023, our Grade 10 students surpassed already high expectations and achieved outstanding grades, showcasing the dedication of both our learners and educators in overcoming challenges and excelling academically. As the table below shows, over 70% of all grades were a C and above. A full 20% of the cohort achieved five or more As/A*s and one student achieved 7A*s and 1 A.
Windhoek International School - Cambridge IGCSE Examination Results
| % A* - A grades | %A* - C grades |
2007 - 2019 | 21% | 68% |
2021 | 22% | 70% |
2022 | 13% | 59% |
2023 | 20% | 70% |
Table 1: May/June 2023 IGCSE Results, in historical context
Ms. Margarete Reiff, Secondary Principal of Windhoek International School, said "Our teachers have played a crucial role in guiding and inspiring our students, and we're incredibly proud of what they have achieved." Ms Angelina Costa, IGCSE Coordinator of Windhoek International School, added that “These results are a testament to our students’ resilience and hard work.”
Education at WIS is about more than just strong exam results
These excellent academic results are but one measure of our success. The mission of Windhoek International School is “To develop the full potential of each student in a stimulating environment of academic excellence, cultural diversity and active social responsibility to become internationally-minded independent thinkers.” For WIS, this means that what matters most is for all students to develop the character and disposition to be ethical and caring global citizens who think creatively, communicate effectively, collaborate well within a diverse working context, and ultimately go on to become lifelong learners and positive contributors to society.
Ethan Van Drunen, Windhoek International School’s Educational Director, put it this way: “World-beating examination results are certainly nice to have, but what is even better is being part of an inclusive and caring learning community that is making a very real and positive difference for Namibia and for our world.”
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