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Our IB Advantage

Branksome Hall is the only independent girls' school in Toronto to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) exclusively.

How to Apply

WHY IB?

An IB education fosters global-mindedness, critical thinking and holistic learning through rigorous curricula. The program also promotes curiosity, develops student ownership for learning through regular feedback and offers unmatched preparation for university.

Blue and white International Baccalaureate (IB) logo with a lowercase "i" and "b" inside a circular design on a light blue background.

IB Differentiators

With the complexities of our current global context, tomorrow’s leaders will need to think differently and navigate uncertainty. Branksome Hall’s IB program fosters well-rounded, high-achieving individuals who are already shaping that future.

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30% IB students are 30% more likely to be accepted into top-tier universities compared to regular curriculum students.

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$5.3M The amount in scholarship offers received by Branksome students in 2025, with a 100% university acceptance rate.

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80% Percentage of IB students who participate in international study experiences which enhance cultural awareness and adaptability.

OUR IB PROGRAMme

Every Branksome Hall student from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 benefits from the IB curriculum. Cultivating curiosity, as well as creative and critical thinking, and facilitating regular assessments and feedback, the IB offers unparalleled university preparation.

Branksome Hall's unique IB Select program empowers students in Grades 11 and 12 students to customize their course selections, leveraging their strengths.

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Primary Years Programme JK–Gr. 6

The Primary Years Programme is designed to nurture a lifelong love of learning. Students are challenged to think critically, research deeply and develop globally-minded perspectives on a broad range of issues.

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Middle Years Programme Gr. 7–10

The Middle Years Programme focuses on the development of the whole girl. Students use inquiry to discover content and knowledge, as well as to explore real-world application, create new meaning and solve problems.

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Diploma or IB Select Gr. 11–12

An emphasis on international-mindedness and intercultural understanding, providing context for young women to lead in a complex, interdisciplinary, globally connected adult world.

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What Makes Our IB Program Unique

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The Power of IB Curriculum

More than 5,700 schools in over 160 countries have adopted the IB World School program, recognized widely as the gold standard in education.

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Toronto’s Only Independent School for Girls to Exclusively Offer IB

At Branksome Hall, students become inquisitive critical thinkers from an early age. They embrace diverse perspectives and recognize the world’s complexities, striving to become compassionate leaders who take action to create a better future.

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Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

Thanks to the inquiry-based approach that fosters deep understanding and independent learning, IB students consistently outperform regular curriculum students in assessments requiring complex problem-solving and analytical thinking.

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Empowering Thoughtful Leaders

IB students have higher rates of volunteerism and leadership involvement, with 70% engaging in community engagement or leadership roles.

Pathways for Grades 11 & 12

Based on their post-secondary goals, students will choose to enter one of two Diploma program options. We believe choice offers agency and control, and a personalized course selection plays to each student’s unique strengths and assets.

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Full Diploma

At Branksome, we believe in the value of a liberal arts education, as represented by the Full Diploma Programme, to expose students to varied ways of knowing and thinking across the disciplines.

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Branksome Hall IB Select

Students who decide to take the IB Select Program pathway will be exposed to varied ways of knowing and thinking, while experiencing a more personalized or a more discipline-focused pathway.

LOCAL & GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES

From supporting Toronto communities to engaging in international service projects, our students use their talents to make a difference.

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ARTS

At Branksome, the arts come alive through music, film, theatre and student-led productions.

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ATHLETICS

Our Athletics program offers diverse opportunities to develop integrity, discipline, teamwork and a passion for active living.

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CLUBS & Co-Curriculars

Working together on co-curriculars helps our students make friends, learn leadership skills and have fun.

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CREATIVITY, Activity & SERVICE

Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) is a fundamental part of life in the Senior & Middle School. All students from Grades 7 to 12 are given opportunities for experiential learning or gaining knowledge by participating in new activities outside of the classroom.

Understanding CAS

  • Principal’s Award

    The Principal's Award Program aims to foster Grades 7 and 8 students' awareness of community and the opportunities that exist for their participation. Students get involved in a flexible, non-competitive program of activities and keep a log book throughout the year, recording their activities and reflecting on their learning.

  • Duke of Edinburgh Awards

    The Duke of Edinburgh Awards Program is internationally recognized and is based on a challenging program of leisure-time activities. It aims to broaden young Canadians' interests and experience in the areas of public service, expeditions, skills and fitness. Any student 14 years or older can earn the award at the Bronze, Silver and Gold level of excellence. All Branksome students will have the opportunity to complete their Bronze Award by the end of Grade 10.

  • IB Diploma CAS Program

    Students in Grades 11 and 12 complete approximately three hours per week devoted to a balance of Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS).

    Creativity includes a wide range of arts activities, as well as the creativity students demonstrate in their community engagement projects.

    Action can include not only participation in individual and team sports but also taking part in expeditions and in local or international projects.

    Service encompasses a host of community engagement activities. Some examples include helping children with special needs, visiting hospitals and working with refugees.

Principal’s Award

The Principal's Award Program aims to foster Grades 7 and 8 students' awareness of community and the opportunities that exist for their participation. Students get involved in a flexible, non-competitive program of activities and keep a log book throughout the year, recording their activities and reflecting on their learning.

Duke of Edinburgh Awards

The Duke of Edinburgh Awards Program is internationally recognized and is based on a challenging program of leisure-time activities. It aims to broaden young Canadians' interests and experience in the areas of public service, expeditions, skills and fitness. Any student 14 years or older can earn the award at the Bronze, Silver and Gold level of excellence. All Branksome students will have the opportunity to complete their Bronze Award by the end of Grade 10.

IB Diploma CAS Program

Students in Grades 11 and 12 complete approximately three hours per week devoted to a balance of Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS).

Creativity includes a wide range of arts activities, as well as the creativity students demonstrate in their community engagement projects.

Action can include not only participation in individual and team sports but also taking part in expeditions and in local or international projects.

Service encompasses a host of community engagement activities. Some examples include helping children with special needs, visiting hospitals and working with refugees.

Five girls in school uniforms and sportswear stand together smiling. Two of them hold a younger girl horizontally across their arms. They all appear happy and friendly, posing for a group photo against a plain background.

Join Our Community

How to Apply

Address

Branksome Hall
10 Elm Ave, Toronto, ON, Canada
M4W 1N4

Contact

1-416-920-9741
admissions@branksome.on.ca

Land Acknowledgement
We wish to acknowledge this land on which Branksome operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Wendat, the Seneca and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit River. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous peoples from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work and go to school on this land.*


*The Land Acknowledgement may evolve as we honour our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation in partnership with Indigenous communities.

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