IBSCA Workshop FAQs
+ What is IBSCA?
IBSCA is the IB Schools and Colleges Association of the UK and Ireland. We are an official association of the International Baccalaureate and an authorised provider of IB professional development workshops. Workshops advertised on our website are IB approved and delegates who successfully complete a workshop will receive a certificate from IBSCA issued on behalf of IBSCA and the IB.
+ Are IBSCA workshops official IB workshops?
Yes, IBSCA workshops are authorised by the Internaitonal Baccalaureate. IBSCA is an authorised provider of IB workshops. Our full list of IB authorised workshops can be found here.
Please note that IBSCA delivers a range of professional development training for its members. Our seminars and conferences are not authorised by the IB. If you have any questions about whether the event you are interested in attending is IB authorised please contact us.
+ Who can attend an IBSCA workshop?
IBSCA workshops are open to IB educators who need to complete authorised professional development.
+ Which workshop is right for me?
Each workshop is labelled with a Category that signifies the appropriate experience level required to participate.
Category 1 workshops focus on IB philosophy and implementation. They provide professional development and assistance for schools that have decided to apply for IB authorization. They are also relevant for educators who are new to a school with an existing IB programme and those interested in joining an IB school. Participants will gain an understanding of:
the basic philosophy and curricular model of the programme, including the IB mission statement, learner profile, and curriculum documents
programme standards and practices appropriate to the participants’ role (e.g., teacher, administrator, head of school, and so on)
the appropriate programme framework (PYP, MYP, DP)
Teachers who are new to an IB programme will:
- Receive a general introduction to IB philosophy and programme Understand the structure of the programme (including assessment procedures) Create drafts or refine and improve course outlines/designs and application Be able to begin teaching the programme upon completion of the workshop
Please note: Category 1 workshops will only spend 1–2 sessions on the course designs/outlines. If new teachers already have a course outline, they will be able to review it and discuss it with the workshop leader.
Category 2 workshops focus on programme delivery. They emphasize assessment, teaching and learning methodologies, and exploring best practice in the classroom. The goals of these workshops are to enhance the understanding of the IB philosophy and programme model and improve the quality of programme delivery. Participants will:
make connections between the programme framework and practice
enhance their understanding of the role of assessment in IB programmes
discuss and analyze standards and practices appropriate to their role
engage in discussion and activities aimed at sharing pedagogical techniques such as best practice in the classroom; teaching and learning methodologies; and finding, sharing, developing and using resources.
Teachers who have attended Category 1 training and currently teach in an IB programme will:
Share best practices, teaching and learning methodologies and resources
Explore IB assessment in more depth
Enhance the quality of pedagogy and international mindedness
Please note: Category 2 workshops assume participants have been teaching their particular IB programme. Participants will be expected to have a good understanding and practical experience in the assessment so they can share good practices.
Category 3 workshops vary in terms of audience. Some are for more experienced educators who want to enhance their professional development portfolios. Others are for all educators – those with and those without a great deal of experience.
Participants will engage in detailed discussions on topics such as learning theory, pedagogy, assessment, and other scholarly interests.
These workshops also cover subject-specific content, administrative and pedagogical leadership, and subject-specific seminars on changes to the IB curriculum.
To confirm if a workshop category is right for you, Contact Us.
+ What days and times are workshops run?
Virtual Workshops:
IBSCA virtual workshops are delivered over weekends and include full-day instructoin on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Occasionally, we have one-day workshops, so please pay close attention to the dates and times for individual events.
All virtual workshops are delivered on UK time and customarily run from 9:00am to 4:00pm each day. Delegates must attend all workshop sessions. Asynchronous attendance is not possible. Workshops will not be recorded.
Face-to-Face Workshops
IBSCA face-to-face workshops are run over weekends and typically begin at 13:00 on Friday and conclude at 12:45 on Sunday. Please see individual workshop listings for an example schedule. Delegates must attend all workshop sessions.
Occasionally, we have one-day workshops, so please pay close attention to the dates and times for individual events.
+ How much does an IBSCA workshop cost?
Fee information is available on individual workshop listings and will vary depending on whether you are attending a virtual or face-to-face workshop.
Summary of fess for virtual workshops for the 2024/2025 academic year
IBSCA Full Member School: £460.00 IBSCA Associate, Candidate & Single Programme Member School: £550.00 Non IBSCA Member School: £640.00
Summary of fees for face-to-face workshops for the 2024/2025 academic year:
IBSCA Full Member School residential: £905.00
IBSCA Associate Member School residential: £995.00
IBSCA PYP/MYP/CP only Member School residential: £995.00
Non IBSCA Member School residential: £1085.00
IBSCA Full Member School non-residential: £585.00
IBSCA Associate Member School non-residential: £675.00
IBSCA PYP/MYP/CP only Member School non-residential: £675.00
Non IBSCA Member School non-residential: £765.00
Extra night of accommodation: £107.00
*Listed prices do not include VAT. You will be charged 20% VAT if applicable.
+ When do I pay?
The Course fees must be paid by either the delegate or school within 30 days of the invoice being issues by Oxford Course Managers.
+ How do I pay?
You will receive an invoice within 48 hours of your order being processed.
You have three payment options:
Credit Card (Visa or Mastercard only). There will be an option to pay by this method at the bottom of the invoice.
Personal cheque or bank draft in £ sterling drawn on a UK bank (payable to IBSCA). Please send this to our Oxford address at: IBSCA PD Workshops, 90 Norreys Road, Cumnor, Oxford, OX2 9PU, UK. (Eurocheques are NOT accepted.)
BACS payments to UK Bank Accounts:
Account Name: IBSCA Limited
Bank Sort Code: 20-50-82 Account Number: 63367789 IBAN Number GB10 BARC 2050 8263 3677 89 BIC or Swift Code: BARCGB22
Bank Charges. Any bank charges incurred by us on your behalf will have to be passed on to you. Bank charges can be minimised by sending the full course fees in a single payment.
+ What happens if I need to cancel?
There is a cancellation period of 14 days after you have received the booking acknowledgement in which you can cancel for a complete refund.
Please see our Terms & Condidtions for further cancellation information.
+ Will I receive certification
Delegates who successfully complete their IBSCA IB authorised workshop by attending and participating in all workshop sessions will receive a PDF certificate issued by IBSCA and the IB. Certificates are sent directly to delegates approximately one-week after completion of the workshop via email.
+ Directions to our face-to-face workshops.
Our face-to-face workshops are held on the campus of the University of Warwick in its Scarman Conference Centre. The centre is conveniently located close to a number of transport links including Birmingham International Airport and Coventry train station. Specific information on travel routes can be found by visiting the Scarman Conference Centre website.
The postcode for the Centre is CV4 7SH. This postcode will direct you to Gibbet Hill Road, the main road through the University. From there, follow signs for Lakeside Village and you will then find signposts for Scarman.
+ Accommodation at our face-to-face workshops.
Delegates selecting the residential option for our IB authorised professional development workshops will receive two-nights of accommodation at the University of Warwick's Scarman Conference Centre. Breakfast and dinner are included as part of the residential fee. Lunch is provided as part of the workshop fee.
Should you require an additional night's stay either at the start or end of your workshop, you can book this for an additional cost of £107.00 per night via the workshop registration form. Bookings can be made post-submission of your workshop registration form to ibsca@oxfordcoursemanagers.org. All additional night bookings are subject to availability.
+ International travel information for our face-to-face workshops.
If you are attending one of our face-to-face IB authorised professional development workshops, you are responsible for following the guidance specific to your country of residence for entry requirements into the United Kingdom. Please note, this includes visa requirements as well as any entrance requirements related to Covid-19. We recommend you consult the embassy or consulate website for the United Kingdom in your country of residence for the most up-to-date information on travel requirements. In addition, please be sure to thoroughly read communication from your airline regarding its regulations and requirements for travel. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer refunds on workshop places not taken up due to non-compliance with entry requirements.
+ What technology should I have access to?
For our face-to-face workshops please be sure to bring with you a reliable laptop or tablet that can connect wirelessly to the internet.
For our virtual workshops it is essential that you have a device, preferably a desktop or laptop computer or tablet, with a reliable and strong internet connection. Your device should have both a working microphone and camera, which you will use during the virtual sessions to engage with your workshop leader and fellow delegates. Active participation in the virtual workshops is a requirement of certification.