Welcome to our School
We support students in pursuing their individual interests and building a portfolio of achievements that will strengthen their applications to universities abroad. At the same time, we provide comprehensive academic and psychological support and give close attention to the wellbeing of every young person.
Annual overview of events and achievements
Your path to the IB Diploma at VIII PALO
At VIII PALO, preparation for the International Baccalaureate begins in the first year of high school. Students gradually develop the language, academic and project-based skills required for the IB Diploma Programme, which they follow in the third and fourth years.
Pre-DP Year 1 — the first step towards the IB
In the first year of the international section, students follow the general upper-secondary school curriculum while gradually preparing to study in a bilingual and international environment. Particular emphasis is placed on developing English language skills, communication and gaining initial experience with the learning methods characteristic of the IB programme.
Students benefit from:
- intensive English language learning, including classes with a native speaker,
- four hours of a second foreign language per week,
- Public Speaking classes,
- bilingual teaching in selected subjects,
- extracurricular activities and an integration trip.
Pre-DP Year 2 — preparing to choose a DP pathway
In the second year, students continue developing the skills required for the DP, particularly working with sources, academic writing, argumentation, debating and planning long-term projects.
At this stage, particular emphasis is placed on:
- project work and a semester-long extended learning project,
- mathematics taught in groups aligned with students’ intended DP pathways,
- Academic Writing and Debate Training classes,
- preparation for making informed DP subject choices,
- meetings with DP teachers, the programme coordinator and an adviser who supports students in planning their further education.
DP1 and DP2 — the full IB Diploma Programme
In the third and fourth years, students complete the IB Diploma Programme. It comprises six subjects selected by the student, Theory of Knowledge, CAS and the Extended Essay research project. The programme requires systematic work, independence and good organisation, while giving students considerable freedom to build their own educational profile.
VIII PALO students benefit from:
- a broad selection of DP subjects,
- an experienced DP teaching team, including IB examiners,
- ManageBac, a platform designed specifically for IB schools,
- support with applications to universities in Poland and abroad,
- opportunities to participate in projects, conferences, competitions, exchanges and educational programmes,
- school facilities that enable students to carry out research, laboratory and artistic projects.
IB student competencies
Throughout their IB journey, students develop, among other things:
- independence and organisational skills — they learn to plan long-term assignments, projects, essays and exam preparation;
- critical thinking — they analyse sources, compare different perspectives and learn to formulate their own conclusions;
- research skills — they complete projects, written assignments, laboratory investigations and the Extended Essay;
- responsibility and reflection — they learn to assess their own progress, respond to feedback and consciously plan their further development;
- collaboration and communication skills — they work in teams and participate in projects, conferences, competitions and community initiatives.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
The IB Diploma Programme offers an alternative educational pathway to the Polish upper-secondary school curriculum. It enables students to make more informed subject choices and pursue their individual interests, placing emphasis not only on knowledge but also on critical thinking, independence, argumentation, research and reflection on the learning process.
In the IB DP, students choose six subjects to create their own individual educational pathway. At VIII PALO, we offer a broad range of subjects, including options less commonly available in the Polish education system, such as Psychology, Business Management, Economics, Computer Science and Sports, Exercise and Health Science.
Admissions and enrolment
VIII PALO admits students to the first and second years of preDP, which prepare them for the IB Diploma Programme, as well as to DP1, the third year of high school, which is the first year of the IB DP.
Students who have completed the first and second years of high school, or an equivalent stage of education, may apply to DP1. All interested candidates are encouraged to review the current admissions procedures and the requirements for their chosen pathway.