Conservatives abolish grants for 8,000 students at Coventry University

In last week's budget the government announced that maintenance grants for poorer students would be replaced by loans from 2016/17.

These grants are targeted at families on incomes of less than £25,000 with a decreasing amount available for households on incomes up to £42,620.

Analysis of the latest figures from the Student Loans Company show that around 8,000 students at Coventry University alone currently benefit from this grant, worth up to £3,300.

Local Liberal Democrats have said that this was a plan their party had to block whilst in coalition.

Cllr Jerry Roodhouse said:

"This is a direct attack on the poorest families, adding a barrier to young people going to University.

The Lib Dems blocked these Tory plans in 2013, insisting that this extra support for the poorest students should be protected just as we insisted on extra money for the poorest students in the school system through the pupil premium.

Now we're seeing a Tory majority government jump at the chance to hit this group of young people."

Student support byUniversity can be found here:

http://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/financial-support-awarded/england-higher-education.aspx