Connecting learning to the real world
At Stratford Hall, Grades 6-12 in the Senior School experience a cohesive and challenging academic journey guided by the International Baccalaureate (IB). From early adolescence through to graduation, learning is designed to help students connect ideas, think independently, and apply their knowledge in meaningful, real-world contexts.
Growing with purpose from Grades 6 to 12
Across these years, students grow in confidence, independence, and self-awareness as they take increasing ownership of their learning. They are encouraged to ask thoughtful questions, explore new ideas, and engage deeply with their studies — not just to acquire knowledge, but to develop the skills and habits that support lifelong learning.
Within a close-knit and supportive community, students build strong relationships with teachers and peers, take intellectual risks, and discover their interests and strengths. As they progress, they are guided to make thoughtful decisions about their learning, preparing them for success in their final years of secondary school and beyond.
Our graduates leave Stratford Hall well prepared to thrive in university and life beyond, earning admission to top universities around the world that reflect their diverse interests and aspirations.
The Middle Years Programme
(Grades 6-10)
In Grades 6-10, learning is guided by the Middle Years Programme (MYP), a framework designed to support students through a period of rapid personal, social, emotional, and intellectual development.
Students learn how to connect ideas across disciplines, think independently, and apply their learning in real-world contexts.
The MYP supports students as they transition through adolescence — a period of rapid personal, social, emotional, and intellectual development. During these years, students are exploring identity, relationships, and their place in the world. The programme provides a structured and flexible framework that supports this stage of growth.
MYP Courses
The MYP Programme ensures students continue to build strong foundations while exploring different areas of interest and making connections across subjects.
Students take a full range of subjects each year, including:
Language and Literature
Language Acquisition
Individuals and Societies
Sciences
Mathematics
Arts
Physical and Health Education
Design
Developing independence and responsibility
In the MYP, learning connects ideas and encourages students to think critically, reflect on their learning, and engage with different perspectives. Along the way, students learn to ask thoughtful questions, communicate clearly, work with others, and take increasing responsibility for their work and decisions.
Students are also encouraged to apply their learning beyond the classroom. Through service and real-world contexts, they begin to see how their actions can have an impact on others and the communities they are part of.
By the end of Grade 9, students are well prepared for the next stage of their learning. In Grade 10, they complete the final year of the MYP and undertake the Personal Project, an extended, self-directed piece of work that reflects their interests and brings together their learning across subjects. From there, students continue their pathway to graduation through the IB Diploma Programme (DP) options in Grades 11 and 12.
We empower students to be leaders within their community.
Graduation Pathways
(Grades 11 and 12)
In Grades 11 and 12, Stratford Hall students engage in a rigorous and balanced programme that prepares them for success at university and in life beyond school. Building on the IB continuum, students deepen their knowledge while continuing to develop as critical, creative, and globally minded thinkers.
As students enter the Senior School, independence and thoughtful decision-making become increasingly important. With guidance from teachers, counsellors, and learning support teachers who know them well, students select a pathway that reflects their strengths, interests, and post-secondary goals.
Learning extends beyond the classroom through athletics, service learning, the arts, leadership opportunities, and co-curricular experiences. These experiences help students develop intercultural understanding, adaptability, and responsibility in a rapidly changing world.
IB Diploma Programme Pathways
Following completion of the Middle Years Programme in Grade 10, students select one of two graduation pathways:
IB Diploma Programme (DP) Pathway
The Diploma Programme (DP) Pathway offers a comprehensive and academically rigorous liberal arts education.
Students study six subjects concurrently over two years, with courses selected from across the IB subject groups. Typically, students take three subjects at Higher Level and three at Standard Level, allowing for both breadth and depth of study.
Alongside their six subjects, students complete the DP core:
- Theory of Knowledge: An interdisciplinary course that asks students to reflect on the nature of knowledge and how we know what we claim to know.
- Extended Essay: An independent, self-directed research project where students investigate a topic of interest and organize and deliver a 4,000-word paper.
- Creativity, Activity, Service: An essential element of the DP that encourages students to learn beyond the classroom through the arts and creative thinking, physical activity, and voluntary service.
Graduates of this pathway earn both the IB Diploma and the BC Dogwood Diploma.
IB Diploma Programme (DP) Courses Pathway
The DP Courses Pathway offers flexibility for students to design a program aligned with their individual strengths, interests, and post-secondary goals.
Students select five or six IB courses across subject areas. Most courses are taken at the Standard Level, with the option to include one or two Higher Level courses.
Students also complete an adapted version of the DP core, which includes:
- Creativity, Activity, Service
- Either Theory of Knowledge or the Extended Essay
This structure preserves key elements of the IB experience while allowing for a more personalized academic program.
Graduates of this pathway earn IB Course Certificates for completed subjects, as well as the BC Dogwood Diploma.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do students choose between the two pathways?All Grade 10 students review their graduation pathway options with the Post-Secondary Counselling Office as part of the selection process. This ensures each student selects a pathway that is right for them and aligns with their strengths, interests, and post-secondary goals.
Who is the IB Diploma Programme (DP) Pathway best suited for?The DP Pathway offers a broad and academically rigorous program that is well recognized by universities and supports a wide range of post-secondary pathways. It may be a strong fit for students who wish to engage in a balanced program of six subjects alongside the full IB core.
Who is the IB Diploma Programme (DP) Courses Pathway best suited for?The Courses Pathway offers flexibility for students to design a program aligned with their individual strengths, interests, and post-secondary goals.
It may be a good fit for students who:
- want to focus more deeply on specific academic areas aligned with their post-secondary plans
- are applying to university programs with particular course requirements
- would benefit from greater flexibility in course selection due to learning needs or individualized support plans
- are balancing significant commitments in elite athletics, the arts, or community involvement
- require a more personalized approach to their academic program
How does the Courses Pathway support post-secondary aspirations?Students in the Courses Pathway earn IB Course Certificates for completed subjects alongside the BC Dogwood Diploma. These qualifications are well regarded by universities, and students work closely with post-secondary counsellors to ensure their course selections align with their academic interests and future goals.
Are the courses on the IB Diploma Programme Courses Pathway the same as those on the IB Diploma Programme Pathway?Yes. Students in both pathways have access to the same IB Diploma Programme courses. The difference lies in program structure: DP students complete six subjects alongside the full IB core, while Courses Pathway students select five or six subjects and complete an adapted IB core.
All Grade 10 students review their graduation pathway options with the Post-Secondary Counselling Office as part of the selection process. This ensures each student selects a pathway that is right for them and aligns with their strengths, interests, and post-secondary goals.
The DP Pathway offers a broad and academically rigorous program that is well recognized by universities and supports a wide range of post-secondary pathways. It may be a strong fit for students who wish to engage in a balanced program of six subjects alongside the full IB core.
The Courses Pathway offers flexibility for students to design a program aligned with their individual strengths, interests, and post-secondary goals.
It may be a good fit for students who:
- want to focus more deeply on specific academic areas aligned with their post-secondary plans
- are applying to university programs with particular course requirements
- would benefit from greater flexibility in course selection due to learning needs or individualized support plans
- are balancing significant commitments in elite athletics, the arts, or community involvement
- require a more personalized approach to their academic program
Students in the Courses Pathway earn IB Course Certificates for completed subjects alongside the BC Dogwood Diploma. These qualifications are well regarded by universities, and students work closely with post-secondary counsellors to ensure their course selections align with their academic interests and future goals.
Yes. Students in both pathways have access to the same IB Diploma Programme courses. The difference lies in program structure: DP students complete six subjects alongside the full IB core, while Courses Pathway students select five or six subjects and complete an adapted IB core.
