The Career-related Programme
Our International Baccalaureate (IB) Career-related Programme (CP) in Enterprise & Entrepreneurship offers Sixth Form students a dynamic pathway that blends academic challenge with practical, real-world learning.
Designed for aspiring young innovators, the CP in Enterprise & Entrepreneurship develops the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to thrive in higher education, future careers, and the rapidly changing global economy.
© International Baccalaureate Organization 2024
What is the CP?
- Academic challenge through the Diploma courses
- A qualification that is recognised and valued by universities in the UK and around the world
- Development of personal and professional skills that are transferable to university and the workplace
- Combines academic learning with real-world experience
- Students gain lifelong learning habits
- Acquisition of intercultural understanding and global awareness
- Development of resilience, flexibility and self-confidence
Who is the CP for?
The CP is an excellent choice for students who
- have already decided on their area of career specialisation
- seek an academically rigorous specialised pathway, that also develops practical skills
- want a holistic IB education package that offers them depth and breadth in academics and transferable skills
- want to build a comprehensive portfolio of accomplishments for university study and employment
Why choose the CP at ISL
- Over 50 years' experience of teaching IB courses
- Small teaching groups resulting in personalised guidance in all aspects of the programme
- Strong support from teachers who are experts in their fields and the IB in particular
- Personalised 3-2-1 approach that encompasses study, wellbeing and next steps support
- A career partnership with Brentford FC and strong community ties through alumni and parent networks
The elements of the CP
These elements together help students deepen their understanding, develop transferable skills and apply their learning to real-world challenges.
Diploma Programme courses
- Between two and four DP subjects at standard or higher level
- Students can choose from a wide range of subjects including language and literature, humanities, language acquisition, science and the arts
- This provides academic challenge and theoretical foundations
Career-related study
- Students undertake a project in an area of business they are passionate about
- We are partnering with Pearson and students will earn a Btec Level 3 Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
IBCP core
- Reflective project
- Personal & professional skills
- Language and culture studies
- Community engagement
The CP core
There are four components of the CP core, designed to be connected by their nature and their learning outcomes.
Together, these components connect the DP courses and the career-related study, grounding learning in the IB mission and promoting personal, academic and professional growth.
Personal and professional skills
This is a course that develops attitudes, strategies and skills for personal and professional contexts. Students strengthen intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, critical and ethical thinking, and intercultural understanding —preparing them for future study or employment.
Community engagement
Students learn with and from community partnerships, exploring local issues and applying their knowledge to meaningful action. This fosters responsibility, empathy and an understanding of their role within wider society.
Reflective project
Students undertake a project to investigate an ethical dilemma linked to their chosen career-related field. It builds advanced research, analytical and communication skills.
Language and cultural studies
Students explore the language and culture of a chosen language to broaden global awareness and communication skills — key attributes for career mobility in a globalised world.
Personal and professional skills
Community engagement
Reflective project
Language development
Moving on to higher education
As the youngest IB programme, IBCP is gaining interest in many countries, and is globally recognised by universities. In the UK, the IBCP is accedited by Ofqual and students apply to UK universities through UCAS in the usual way.
A study in the UK indicated that CP students were progressing and performing well at university, with 70% achieving a first or upper second class honours degree.
Our CP students are supported by our Higher Education Counsellor to help them find the best courses and locations for their next stage of study.
Your questions answered
ISL is a Candidate School* for the CP. This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy — a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that ISL believes is important for our students.
*Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org