§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will issue guidance to local authorities on advising architecture students to apply for funding for their entire course at the start of the course. [100629]
§ Mr. WicksLocal education authorities recognise the distinctive two-part structure of the architecture course and the need to encourage eligible students to apply at the outset for support for all years of the course. Where students do not apply immediately, they can make a later application for support for Part II of the architecture course. LEAs have discretion to continue their eligibility for support for the whole of the course at any time before they complete Part 1. Nevertheless, we shall consider the case for additional guidance for the next academic year.