Mel Ellis – IB Diploma Coordinator

Calamvale Community College is celebrating its milestone accreditation as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. The College is now the first and only independent state school in South-East Queensland to offer both the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for its young learners, and the Diploma Programme (DP) for high achievers.
Calamvale’s IB accreditation is set to change the education game for Brisbane’s Southside. College Executive Principal Lisa Starmer says that this pedagogical shift will provide students with an unmatched learning experience that promotes independent learning and international mindedness.
“The College encourages all its students to live as learners – this ethos will take now shape through a comprehensive continuation of world-class learning, teaching, and assessment from Junior through to Secondary School.”
This unique educational pathway begins in Prep, where students explore and engage with the world in a structured, yet authentic way. The IB Primary Years Programme is a framework for organising curriculum; as such, the College maps the Australian Curriculum across six transdisciplinary themes, ensuring a progression of skills and knowledge. Standardised PYP units of inquiry allow young learners to consolidate their prior knowledge, actively engage with new experiences, and reflect on their learning journey.
Calamvale has chosen to implement PYP because it provides a relevant, engaging, and indispensably global education – the IB strongly advocates for education without borders. This allow the College to concretely foster transdisciplinary approaches to learning, develop students’ international mindedness, and target the attributes of learners that are valued in our College, in the community, nationally, and globally.
For Senior students, the IB Diploma Programme will provide capable students with an internationally recognised qualification that is recognised in over 75 countries and 2,000 universities worldwide. IB graduates are in hot demand across the world – IB schools are renowned for shaping students into compassionate, ethical, and industry-ready leaders.

Now an IB World School, Calamvale Community College has undoubtedly become a “College of Choice” where students are afforded the opportunity to choose their own academic and future career trajectories. Whether this includes performing on stage, creating artistic works, speaking other languages, excelling in the sciences, or applying cutting-edge technologies, Calamvale Community College will be the first choice for all students.
Calamvale Community College hopes to enable its creative, curious, and clever students leave its campus to take charge of their education and pursue the international academic and career opportunities that will come knocking.