International Baccalaureate programme to be discontinued at Sixth Form Centre
- The International Baccalaureate (IB) programme will cease at the Sixth Form Centre from September 2026.
- Education, Sport & Culture concluded that sustaining both A-Levels and IB was not viable.
- Participation in the IB programme has averaged around 10% of the cohort.
- The decision aims to provide clarity to current Year 11 students regarding their post-16 education options.
Education, Sport & Culture has announced that the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme will no longer be offered at the Sixth Form Centre, effective from September 2026.
This decision follows a review aimed at providing clarity to current Year 11 students who are preparing to make their post-16 education choices.
The programme, in which students do six different subjects, was paused for this academic year after only 14 signed up.
Participation rates were consistently around 10% of the total cohort, the committee said.
Education President Paul Montague said: “As someone who has been involved in delivering the IB Diploma Programme for thirteen years, I would like to reassure the public that this was not a decision that the committee made lightly.”
Deputy Montague acknowledged the IB programme’s academic rigour and broad curriculum but noted, “The reality is that the IB Diploma Programme attracts only a very small number of students at present.
"For a programme that is nonetheless resource intensive, this makes it increasingly difficult for us to justify.”
He further explained that the limited number of IB students dilutes the investment across the programme, ultimately restricting the impact on the broader student body.
The decision mirrors similar trends observed in Jersey and highlights challenges faced across the UK in sustaining the IB alongside A-Levels.
The Committee assures that the focus on A-Levels will allow for more substantial investment in training, staffing and development, which they believe will enhance the educational experience for all students.
“By concentrating training, staffing and development budgets on A-Levels, we can ensure that every student benefits from high-quality teaching, specialist support and enrichment opportunities.”
Kieran James, Principal of The Sixth Form Centre, said: “It is obviously disappointing to see the IB programme coming to an end, however, all the staff at the Sixth Form Centre will of course continue to provide the highest possible quality, rich and diverse educational experience for the Bailiwick’s state educated sixth form students through an A-Level pathway.”
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