In congratulating Form Five graduates, the head of school and secondary section principal at Victoria Shanghai Academy, Sherrill Shiu Lai-hung, said: 'Now assess what you have learned at school and prepare for a new stage in your learning.'
The academy in Shum Wan, Aberdeen, offers an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, a challenging two-year curriculum aimed mainly at students aged 16 to 19.
It is different from O-levels and A-levels in several ways, such as course structure and methods of assessment, choice of subjects, use of language, community service and recognition by universities.
Diploma students take six subjects, choosing from two languages, individuals, societies, mathematics, computer science, experimental sciences and the arts. They normally specialise in three.
The diploma at the academy is taught in two first languages - English and Chinese (using Cantonese and Putonghua to teach Chinese language and literature). The courses places importance on Chinese heritage and culture.
The academy has been an International Baccalaureate World School since 2005, and offers the IB Primary Years Programme, IB Middle Years Programme and IB Diploma Programme.
'Creativity, action, service' are critical and compulsory components of the programme. It is central to the philosophy of the course.