‘What does this say about the state of education in Guernsey?’

The programme was offered at the Sixth Form Centre, but it was initially paused earlier this year when only 14 students signed up.

Earlier this month it was announced that it was being pulled for good.

The IB diploma is a two-year programme for 16 to 19-year-olds in which they must choose six subjects, including maths, sciences and the arts as well as a modern language.

It was the variety of subjects which attracted Jess Rowe, 21, to tackle the diploma.

‘I didn’t really know what career I wanted,’ she said. ‘If I took six subjects, I could continue to be well-rounded. I’ve always been an all-rounder and I liked that. I think it’s such a shame that it’s being stopped.’

It was a tough course but some employers look for applicants who have taken the IB.

Carys Bromley, 26, echoed Miss Rowe’s comments.

‘When I was considering post-16 education, I knew that I would struggle to choose three or four subjects. Being able to study six within the IB, including brand-new subjects such as beginner Spanish, was the perfect solution for me,’ she said.

‘I’m incredibly disappointed with Guernsey’s decision to scrap the IB.’

She described it as ‘a unique educational highlight for the island’, and Guernsey’s results consistently placed highly among international schools.

‘Being taught by high quality, passionate subject leaders, with a progressive and innovative programme, made my post-16 education the best it could have been.’ she said.

‘I can only hope that this decision will one day be overturned, so future individuals can benefit from the same fulfilling experience that I did.’

Ben Tooley, 16, was one of the 14 students who had hoped to start the IB this year.

‘There was outrage when it was cancelled for my year, and I think that outrage should only be increased now that it’s confirmed that it’s been suspended,’ he said. ‘What does that say about the state of education in Guernsey?’

Ben is now doing four A-levels at the Sixth Form Centre, but said when he was deciding which path to take, a teacher told him ‘the IB is for students who still want to learn’.

That teacher was Paul Montague, now president of Education, Sport & Culture.

He had been involved in delivering the course for 13 years and said it had been a difficult decision for the committee to end it.

The main problem had been attracting students.

‘The investment required for IB is spread across too few students, which ultimately limits the impact staff can have on all students at the Sixth Form Centre,’ he said earlier this month.