My son in year 11 was hoping to apply for a IB diploma state school for sixth form as first choice. But now it seems the government has made a sudden decision to cancel funding for the IB diploma for state schools starting for those entering sixth form next year.
The state schools impacted seem to be scrambling now on how they adjust for sixth form applications. School 1 has insisted this doesn’t impact their ability to offer the IB diploma and School 2 removed any uncertainty by announcing they will be moving to A levels instead of the IB diploma for year 11 applicants, Moving to A levels would be a big change for the school 2 and they have no track record for A levels. But I don’t understand how school 1 insists it’s moving ahead with IB next year would be able to sustain that without funding?
What should he do now? Try for the school 1? Revisit other schools with trusted experience of A levels? Or take a chance that the IB sixth form school 2 will transition fine to A levels? I think they will lose some good teachers to private IB schools.
https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/labour-cuts-funding-for-state-school-ib-diplomas