Post-16 Education and Skills Strategy

Louie French Excerpts
Monday 20th October 2025

(1 day, 22 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Louie French Portrait Mr Louie French (Old Bexley and Sidcup) (Con)
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The Secretary of State has claimed today that she is expanding opportunities, while raising tuition fees and cutting international baccalaureate funding for sixth forms in Bexley with little notice. Who did she consult on the decision to cut IB funding? What analysis was undertaken, and will she apologise to the schools across the UK left in limbo by her reckless approach to education?

Bridget Phillipson Portrait Bridget Phillipson
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As I said, next year, we will invest £800 million extra in 16-to-19 funding. We have sought to refocus the large programme uplift that sits alongside that investment on maths and STEM for those studying four or more A-levels, because we think that is important for our industrial strategy priorities, but there will be transitional protections for those schools affected. Students will still be able to study for the IB, and schools will be welcome and able to offer it through the funding streams they receive.