Labour cuts funding for state school IB diplomas

The government is slashing funding for the International Baccalaureate (IB) in state schools, meaning the qualification may only be offered in the private sector.

- Rachel Sylvester

On Wednesday, the Department for Education wrote to headteachers to say that the money paid to schools for delivering the IB diploma programme would be withdrawn from next year. In the letter, the government said it would be "reprioritising" the funding of post-16 education in England to focus on "larger than normal maths and high-value A-level programmes to support the pipeline of students for priority sectors".

The decision, which was communicated with no consultation, is in marked contrast to the approach taken by Tony Blair when he was prime minister. In 2006, the Labour government announced plans to give all state school pupils in England the chance to study for the IB diploma.

Money was allocated to ensure that each local authority area had at least one centre offering the internationally recognised qualification.