The government will provide an update on paused free school projects “later this year”, ministers have said. Education secretary Bridget Phillipson and her ministerial team took education questions from MPs today. They were quizzed about SEND, International Baccalaureate (IB) funding cuts and free schools programme delays. Here鈥檚 what we learned鈥 1. Free schools update 鈥榣ater this year鈥 Last year the government paused plans for 44 new mainstream free schools after launching a review into whether they offer value for money. When asked about this today, children鈥檚 minister Josh MacAlister confirmed there 鈥渨ill be an update provided later this year鈥. He pointed to National Audit Office findings from 2017 that showed 鈥減lanned free schools would add an estimated 57,500 more spare鈥 places. 鈥淲e are taking a common-sense approach so we can prove value for money from every pound of taxpayer money spent.鈥 MacAlister was speaking about the mainstream projects on pause, but the sector is also waiting to hear what will happen with a number of delayed special free school projects. 2. IB cuts spark 鈥榯wo-tier鈥 fears Earlier this month, the IB warned the Department for Education鈥檚 decision 鈥渢o adjust post-16 education funding from 2026/27鈥 will reduce the cash available for its programmes in the state sector. These are This afternoon, Mid Sussex MP Alison Bennett said that without the money 鈥渢he IB will become financially unviable鈥 for the only provider in her county. She asked whether the department thought 鈥渋t right that this world-class qualification becomes available only in the private sector, entrenching a two-tier education system鈥. MacAlister insisted government 鈥渉as made big decisions at the spending review to increase the overall amount of funding available to 16 to 19 courses鈥 worth an extra 鈥溌800 million鈥. 鈥淭hat means that the per pupil funding is going up substantially. We still support international baccalaureate and recognise it as a program that can work for many students.鈥 3. 鈥楥ombative鈥 SEND system Following a question on SEND support, education minister Georgia Gould said the curriculum and assessment review is 鈥渓ooking closely at what affects children’s learning in mainstream schools鈥. This will include 鈥渢hose with SEND, ADHD and those with a formal diagnosis鈥aking sure every pupil can access a broad and balanced curriculum鈥. Gould was later asked whether she agreed a 鈥渒ey indicator of success鈥 for Labour鈥檚 inclusion agenda was that 鈥渋t drives out鈥 the 鈥渃ombative鈥 nature of the SEND system. Gould said the MP was 鈥渁bsolutely right鈥. 鈥淚’ve spoken to too many parents who’ve had to fight so hard to get the support their children. The support should be available when children need it.鈥 Gould also said the department was “working very closely with councils where there are waiting lists [for EHCPs] to improve that provision and where necessary to bring in specialist SEND advice鈥. 4. Families 鈥榠n the dark鈥 over reforms Shadow education minister Saqib Bhatti told the House of Commons “parents and children have been left in the dark” over how the government will support youngsters with SEND. He asked ministers to confirm when the SEND white paper will be published and if Labour will scrap EHCPs, as has been suggested previously. Gould said the Conservatives 鈥渉ad 14 years to deliver this reform 鈥 where was any of this urgency when they were in power?鈥 She said Labour was 鈥渄etermined to work with families, with teachers, with experts to get these reforms right and ensure we don’t make the same mistakes of the last government鈥.