IB diploma funding cancelled for state school sixth forms - year 11 applicants

[Wonderbread77]

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

It may well be that the mathsy students will seamlessly transition to A-levels in some of the subjects they were planning to do at IB but it may also mean schools, not just the IB ones, start reducing the availability of non-premium subjects in order to make more space for the ones that bring the extra funding. Gone are the days of studying maths, a couple of sciences and something like a language, or music for those keen on the Tonmeister course.

TGS is the school I mentioned was switching to A-levels. I know a number of teachers who teach the IB, much prefer it to A-level and aren't sure they want to teach a different qualification. Others are worried the news will lead to significant redundancies as every sixth former had to study maths, English and a MFL but that will no longer be the case. Everyone is frustrated at the timing of the announcement and what it means for the open evenings that had been about to take place.

The fact that TGS switched so quickly and communicated so well on their website shows they are super organised? And moved the open day? Must be a well run school? Those would be my thoughts as a parent. Unfortunately our Government and Education Departments lead from the top lording it over the rest of us. I find it incredibly troubling especially since Covid. It is so male and so toxic the entire set up! Happy to see a girls school like TGS react quickly and I am sure they will manage to get the best out of their future cohorts and staff.

Such a disappointment. I'd imagine that the schools that haven't immediately announced a switch to A Levels are hoping the decision may be reversed. Many IB schools are choosing to fight the funding cuts with the support of the IB and IBSCA and are encouraging parents to communicate with their MPs. They may not succeed, but I wouldn't say it's an indication that they're less organised than TGS.

https://www.tes.com/magazine/analysis/secondary/dfe-wrong-to-cut-ib-funding-state-schools

https://europaschooluk.org/2025/10/09/ib-diploma-funding-announcement-response-to-parents/

https://www.ibo.org/news/news-about-the-ib/ib-calls-on-ministers-to-reconsider-funding-decision-that-could-dismantle-successful-school-programmes-in-england/

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It’s an amazing school. Soooo supportive of its students yet gets brilliant results. I have had two dds through it very recently.

Headteachers at affected schools must be having plenty of sleepless nights at the moment. Right at the time when they are playing h 6th form open evenings and trying to attract year 11 students.
Locally, there are a number of schools that offer either the full IB diploma or the IBCP.
At an estimate, one will have a £600k gap in funding versus what they would have had on their financial plans and what they will now receive.
Whatever the schools decide to do, there will be a cost - either to continue running it, or to undertake training for A levels and (sadly) making redundancies cos that’s the only way they are going to save the money.