Former education secretary Bridget Phillipson was initially concerned about forcing students on weekend-only courses to repay their maintenance loans but went ahead following advice from civil servants, according to court documents.
A group of five English universities have launched a legal challenge against Phillipson and the Student Loans Company (SLC) over the decision to remove funding for weekend courses, with a two-day judicial review hearing beginning on 28 July.
The legal team representing the claimants – Bath Spa University, Buckinghamshire New University, Leeds Trinity University, London Metropolitan University and Southampton Solent University – argue that Philipson’s decision to halt funding for students on weekend-only courses was “unlawful” as she had erroneously interpreted the regulations relating to which students are eligible for maintenance loans.
In April, around 22,000 students were informed their maintenance loans and childcare grants issued by the SLC had been halted and they would have to repay the money they had already received immediately, despite being part-way through their studies.
The government eventually partially reversed its position and said students could repay through the normal processes, but maintained that any future students on weekend-courses would not be eligible for the funding.
