A TRAINEE teacher has been told that she will no longer receive grants towards her studies - because she got married.
Rachel Lockley, 25, was in line to receive up to £6,600 in grants and loans to help her realise her ambition of training to become a primary school teacher.
But her local education authority has slashed the grant for tuition fees and and also a "higher national" award after discovering that she is no longer a single mum.
She made her vows to long-term partner Mark Craven on the sunshine island of Cyprus last month. The couple have a three-year-old son.
Promoting
The news comes at a time when the government is spending millions promoting teaching as a career while there is also growing concern that more young people are turning away from the institution of marriage.
Rachel, from Rochdale, said: "I gave up a good career in a local authority finance department so that I could go into teaching. It's something I have always wanted to do.
"But I'm being penalised now just because I've married my partner. My financial situation hasn't changed just because I've got a ring on my finger."
As a young unmarried mum, Rachel was set to receive £1,175 to cover her tuition fees plus a £1,000 higher national award for the first year of her four-year course at Manchester Metropolitan University when she applied for a grant from her local council in May.
She was also eligible for a £4,420 student loan.
But now, after becoming Mrs Rachel Craven in August, she will have to pay for her tuition. She will also get no higher national grant and will only be offered a reduced loan of £3,930.
It means she and Mr Craven will struggle to make ends meet while she studies for her B.A. (Hons) Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status, for which she registered this week.
It also means she will not be able to afford to pay for the childminder who looks after her son Zachariah.
Rachel said: "The government should be encouraging people like me and giving me an incentive. All I want to do is better myself and do a job that benefits the local community.
"But this is so unfair. I'm going to carry on with my studies, but I think I'm going to struggle because I won't have enough money. It's going to be hard on my son, too. We'll just have to take each day as it comes."
Her old job at the council has now been reallocated so there is no turning back.
A spokesman for Rochdale Council said: "The rules about the administration and payment of student grants and loans are made by the government.
Law
"Student financial support is means tested. How much is paid depends upon the level of household income.
"According to the law, where a student who is under 25 at the start of the academic year is cohabiting, the partner's income is not taken into account.
"But for a married couple of any age it is necessary to include the spouse's income in the household means test when assessing the level of grant and loan entitlement.
"While we understand Mrs Craven's situation we have no discretion to vary the rule."
A report by the think-tank Civitas claimed earlier this week the nation's tax and benefits regime was punishing married couples and two-parent families, while acting as a "perverse incentive" for single parents. Civitas said the benefits system was targeting resources on non-earners, low-earners and single-parents.
It said this was providing "financial carrots" for many couples with children to split up or keep their relationships informal.
Should Rachel be allowed to keep her grant? Have your say.
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Why should she keep the grants? As far as I can gather this woman has never been a single mum. If I understand this article correctly she has a long term partner and the child is his. Does that mean they have been living together as man and wife for the last three years and possibly more? The only difference now is that they have made it official.
Maybe she should be paying some of her grant back.
the laws the law tough $h1T
I know from receiving grants that your entire household income is assessed - My parents even had to provide evidence of their disabilties for mine! If this woman has been honest in her application for a grant before she was married, then she is still entitled to it! How does getting married affect the amount of money coming into your household?
Here here Steve of Warrington! Some people want cream on it too! And weddings in Cyprus don't come cheap yet she claims she can't afford to study now?
I also agree with Steve, and find it hard to believe that this woman considers that she is worthy of sympathy for her 'plight'.
She has never been a single mum and was surely taking advantage of the very lax grant awards system. Would you want someone as unscrupulous as this teaching your children?
Whoah, whoah, people!!! This woman is clearly attempting to better herself, and to be a valued contributor to our society.
How ironic that the only words of sympathy come from someone who has had a similar experience, as oppose to the "layabout culture" responses that the other contributors can offer.
Rachel seems to have the required I.Q. for teaching...Personally, I would have done my homework on the issue BEFORE I got married. Dumb.
How can getting married make such a difference? Living with a partner or being married - the same income is coming into the house and being honest as made her grants go. So unfair!!!
I have to totally agree with you steve !!!! It sounds like she as never been a single parent . When you get a grant they have always taken into account the amount of money coming into the house so why should she think its any different for her if she can afford a wedding like that in cyprus then she can afford to pay for her own education sorry !!!!!!!
The systems in place for grants is very poor and needs re-addressing!
The comments from Sam - How did you know she paid for the wedding! For all you know someone else could have paid! Don't just guess!
The comments are so nasty. If you read the article properly you would understand the circumstances and not think she is trying to 'fiddle' the system. Origially a grant awarded living with partner under the age of 25 because they decided to marry IT ALL CHANGED!!!! Now explain that one! THE SYSTEMS SINK!!!!!!!!!!!!
I feel sorry for this person, who as far as I can gather has been let down by the system. Maybe she shoud of got pregnant at sixteen, had five kids and never worked again!!! Surely then the government would have stepped in with financial support. Well done this person for not giving up on her dream career.
What a peach of a story!! This belle should have been allrighty and looking forward to her studies and saying Hi ! to higher education instead of "please sir , I want some more" Its scandalous !! Good luck Rachel, get yourself on the Springer show or Richard and Judy and let the country know your situation !!!
I feel sorry for this person, who as far as I can gather has been let down by the system. Maybe she shoud of got pregnant at sixteen, had five kids and never worked again!!! Surely then the government would have stepped in with financial support. Well done this person for not giving up on her dream career.
Never a single mum...she lived with her boyfriend...must have had a few quid to get married too as it aint cheap...
should have put it toward your fees love.
Yes she should receive the full grant.. Discrimination against people who are married, as opposed to those who are single should be banned.
As usual, the majority of idiots commenting have completely missed the point - the point being that the grant is available to co-habitees but not to married couples. Well done MEN for highlighting another example of this government's perverse anti-marriage benefits policies
Well put Drew.... its really annoying when ppl dont read the article properly then jump on a bandwagon! I'll let you all in to a secret shall I? ..If someone is living with their partner and has a child to them and their not married guess what they are classed as???? SINGLE! for goodness sakes ppl get a grip
Yes, I agree. Probably.
You can tell Steve has not read the article correctly - doh! How can you pay something back you haven't had!
How much did her wedding cost ? Arent grants only supposed to be for the poorest of students. If she can afford a wedding then no grant!