School Profile 2 0 2 2 U N I V E R S I T Y D E S T I N AT I O N S
Discover Our IB Advantage Branksome Hall is a leading International Baccalaureate (IB) World School for girls. Established in 1903 in Toronto, Canada, Branksome is an independent, university-preparatory school whose exemplary liberal arts curriculum prepares its graduates to be creative thinkers and problem solvers.
Our Graduates
Branksome Curriculum Highlights
Enrolment during 2021-2022
All students, from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12, follow the IB curriculum:
Junior School (JK - Grade 6)
267 students
Middle School (Grades 7-8)
184 students
Senior School (Grades 9 - 12)
458 students
•P rimary Years Program (JK–Grade 6) •M iddle Years Program (Grades 7–10) •D iploma Program (Grades 11–12) All Senior School courses are offered at the university preparatory level. Branksome students work toward graduating with both the IB Diploma and the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
Our graduates represent the cultural diversity of Toronto, one of the world’s most multicultural cities. During the 2021–22 school year, our Boarding students alone represented 15 countries. Our graduates are welcomed by post-secondary institutions in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and around the world. In 2022, our graduates were offered entrance scholarships totalling more than $4.4 million, and 100 per cent of our graduates were Ontario Scholars.
Why the IB Diploma Program? This enriched liberal arts program is viewed as the gold standard by universities worldwide.
Total (JK - Grade 12) Senior & Middle School Day
909 students 593 students
Senior & Middle School Residence
49 students
Graduating Class of 2022
115 students
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BRANKSOME HALL
In 2022, our graduates were offered entrance scholarships totaling more than $4.4 million, and 100 per cent of our graduates were Ontario Scholars. Grading Policies
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program
The grading standards in the Ontario educational system differ from those that typically prevail at American high schools. For example, in our system, first (or “A”) standing commences at 80 per cent, rather than 90 per cent. What is referred to as “a solid B+ average” is therefore in the upper 70s. At the other end of the scale, our passing grade is 50 per cent, rather than 60 or 65 per cent.
Branksome Hall is a continuum school and we began offering the IB Diploma Program in 2003. Approximately fifty per cent of our faculty are involved in IB leadership roles, ranging from examiners/moderators to workshop leaders/site visitors, exam writers/editors and program and curriculum reviewers. Of our Senior and Middle School faculty, 45 hold Master’s degrees and five hold Ph.D. degrees.
If a course is repeated, the highest grade achieved is counted for credit. These standards are mandated by the Ontario Ministry of Education, which accredits all public and independent schools in this province, and are not at the discretion of individual secondary schools or groups of schools. Ontario (OSSD) transcript grades reflect a student’s final achievement over the course of an academic year. Due to our challenging academic standards, Branksome Hall does not rank students or calculate GPAs. Branksome Hall is a nonsemester school. The International Baccalaureate Schools of Ontario (IBSO) has a shared table of equivalents to percentages, as outlined in the chart below.
In Grade 11, students begin the two-year International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, concurrently earning Ontario secondary school credits. Grade 11 and 12 Ontario courses are at the most advanced level (University Preparation or University/College Preparation) and are integrated into the IB curriculum. In May 2022, 116 students wrote 39 different subject exams. The highest diploma points awarded to a candidate was 44. The average grade achieved by students who earned the diploma was 5.19; the average point total was 33 points; and 56 students achieved 32 points or more. Six students earned a bilingual diploma.
Grading Equivalents Branksome Hall Four-Year Summary of IB Results
Average Subject Grade (BH) Average Point Total (BH) Average Point Total (World) Overall Pass Rate in Individual Subjects (BH)
IB Points 1-7
2022
2021
2020
2019
5.19
5.45
5.19
33
35
33
31.98 100%
30.02 100%
30 100%
IB Levels
Ontario Secondary School Credit % Equivalent Range
7
Excellent
97-100
5.14
6
Very Good
93-96
33
5
Good
85-92
29.63
4
Satisfactory
74-83
3
Mediocre
63-71
2
Poor
53-60
1
Very Poor
49 and below
100%
Ontario Ministry 4-point scale
Ontario Letter Grade Equivalent
4+
A+
4
A
4-
A-
3
B
2 1 R
C D F
IB Course Offerings IB Diploma courses, completed in Grades 11 and 12, are offered at Branksome Hall at both the Higher (HL) and Standard (SL) levels, unless otherwise noted. These courses are aligned with Ontario Grade 11 and 12 3U/M and 4U/M courses.
GROUP 1
GROUP 2
GROUP 3
GROUP 4
GROUP 5
GROUP 6
Bengali
French
Economics
Biology
Dance
Cantonese
Latin
Chemistry
English
Spanish (HL/SL/Ab initio)
Environmental Systems and Societies (SL)
Mathematics Analysis and Approaches
French German Mandarin Spanish
Geography (HL) History of Europe
Environmental Systems and Societies (SL) Physics Sports, Health & Exercise Science
Mathematics Applications and Interpretations
Music Theatre Arts Visual Arts Visual Arts – Film Extended Essay Theory of Knowledge
SCHOOL PROFILE
3
COVID-19 Disruption As COVID-19 continued to impact the province of Ontario and as the Omicron variant spread, Branksome Hall students continued to experience disruptions in daily life and school during the 2021-22 school year. Toronto continued to have pandemic restrictions which impacted public events and transportation for our students. The 2022 year began with yet another shut-down of campus and in-person learning having to move to virtual instruction. Unfortunately, there continued to be high absenteeism and challenges including faculty being unavailable for in-person instruction due to the Omicron variant which impacted the students’ learning in their first year of the IB Diploma program. In addition to classroom learning being disrupted, co-curricular opportunities were also limited to the students. It was not until late spring of 2022 that students were able to engage and interact across cohorts and begin to be back to regular day to day activities they enjoy. 2022 Graduates’ Chosen Programs Programs
Number of Graduates
Percentage of Graduating Class
26
Arts and Science/Liberal Arts Biological Sciences Business and Commerce
O N TA R I O
55
McMaster University
1
Queen’s University
18
3
2.61
University of Toronto
19
University of Waterloo
1
Fine Arts and Design/Performing Arts
4
3.48
Humanities
5
4.35
Kinesiology/Sports and Exercise Science
1
0.87
Mathematics, Engineering and Physical Sciences
11
9.57
Medicine and Medical Fields
4
3.48
12
10.43
Undeclared
3
2.61
Alternate Plans (GAP year)
3
2.61
Western University
12
OT H E R CA N A D I A N UNIVERSITIES
15
Dalhousie University
5
McGill University
3
St. Francis Xavier University
1
University of British Columbia
5
University of King’s College
Top University Destinations 2022 University of Toronto
19
Queen’s University
18
1+1*
6.09%
Western Provinces
5
4.35%
U.K. & Ireland
9
7.83%
Other International Universities
0
0.00%
GAP Year
3
2.61%
Unknown
3
2.61%
Fashion Institute of Technology
1
Georgetown University
1
New York University
5
Ohio State University
1
Pepperdine University
1
Savannah College of Art & Design
1
Southern Methodist University
2
St. Lawrence University
2
Syracuse University
1
The New School
2
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
1
Trinity College
1
Tufts University
1
University of CaliforniaBerkeley
2
1
University of California-San Diego
1
Anglo-European College of Chiropractic
University of CaliforniaSanta Cruz
1
2
University of Chicago
1
University of Notre Dame
2
University of Richmond
1
OT H E R I N T E R N AT I O NA L UNIVERSITIES
1
Trinity College Dublin and Columbia University
1*
12 5
The University of Edinburgh
3
New York University
5
University of Manchester
1
University of British Columbia
5
McGill University
3
University of St Andrews
2
University of Edinburgh
3
University of Guelph
3 32
7
9
Dalhousie University
US Universities (total)
2.61% 27.83%
U N I T E D KI N G DO M & I R E LA N D
University College London
Western University
3 32
Class of 2022 University Destinations
3
5.22
47.83%
Atlantic Provinces
University of Guelph
17.39
55
Quebec
22.61
6
Percentage
United States
1
20
Number of Graduates
Ontario
Sheridan College-Trafalgar Campus
Computer Science, Technology and Communications
Social Sciences
2022 Graduates’ Regional Destinations
U N I T E D STAT E S
32
Clemson University
2
Coastal Carolina University
1
Eastman School of Music
1
*Gap Year.
University Destinations (2019-2022) O NTAR IO
UNITE D KING DO M & IR ELAND
UNITED STATES
Savannah College of Art and Design
Brock University
Anglo-European College of Chiropractic
American University
Southern Methodist University
Carleton University
Durham University
Berklee College of Music
St. John’s College
Huron University College
King’s College London (University of London)
Boston University
St. Lawrence University
Bowdoin College
Stanford University
California Institute of Technology
Syracuse University
Clemson University
The New School
Coastal Carolina University
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
McMaster University Queen’s University Sheridan College-Trafalgar Campus Trent University University of Guelph University of Ottawa University of Toronto University of Waterloo Western University Wilfrid Laurier University York University
OT H ER P ROV IN C E S
Met Film School (London) St George’s, University of London The University of Edinburgh Trinity College Dublin University College Dublin
Dartmouth College
University College London
Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester
University of Dundee
George Washington University
University of Manchester
Georgetown University
University of Oxford
Johns Hopkins University
University of St Andrews
Kenyon College
University of Warwick
New York University
OTH E R INTE RNATIO NAL UNIVE RS ITIE S
Dalhousie University
Duke Kunshan University
McGill University
IE University - Madrid
St. Francis Xavier University
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
The University of British Columbia
Trinity College Dublin and Columbia University Tufts University University of California, Berkeley University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles
Northeastern University
Concordia University - Montreal
Trinity College
Northwestern University Ohio State University-Main Campus Pepperdine University Rhode Island School of Design Ringling College of Art and Design
University of California-San Diego University of California, Santa Barbara University of California-Santa Cruz University of Chicago University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of Richmond University of Southern California
University of King’s College
Wellesley College Wesleyan University Yale University
U NI V ER S IT Y C OUN S E L L ING Michelle Embury Director, University Counselling membury@branksome.on.ca 416.920.6265, ext. 255
Meredith McDill University Counsellor mmcdill@branksome.on.ca 416.920.6265, ext. 217
Jennifer Stumborg University Counsellor jstumborg@branksome.on.ca 416.920.6265, ext. 275
Bonita Ip Administrative Assistant to the Director, University Counselling bip@branksome.on.ca 416.920.6265, ext. 214
10 Elm Avenue, Toronto ON M4W 1N4
Tel. 416-920-9741 branksome.on.ca