Formal escalation notice to LSST and BNU

Without prejudice

To whom it may concern,

We refer to our collective letter of 30 March 2026, in which we requested, by 12:00 on Thursday 2 April 2026:

1. A confirmed weekday timetable satisfying the DfE's Maintenance Loan eligibility criteria;
2. Written confirmation that LSST and BNU will notify the SLC and take all steps to prevent the Change of Circumstance notification being submitted against our records during the 6–17 April 2026 window; and
3. A written statement on hardship support and redress.

We have not received a satisfactory response.

We are writing to give LSST and BNU one final opportunity to act before we proceed with formal escalation to all relevant external bodies. We require a full written response by 18:00 on Friday 3 April 2026.

To be clear about what is at stake: each student in this group faces the loss of their second Maintenance Loan instalment, due on 27 April 2026, a potential recovery demand for the first instalment already received, and possible disruption to the continuation of their studies — all as a direct consequence of LSST's failure to implement the hybrid timetable communicated to us on 8 February 2026, and BNU's failure, as awarding body and franchise holder, to ensure its satellite college delivered the course in compliance with student finance eligibility requirements.

We enrolled in good faith. Secretary of State Bridget Phillipson has publicly confirmed: "This is not students' fault." Under Regulation 119 of the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011, the Secretary of State has statutory discretion not to require repayment where students accepted payments in good faith — and on the DfE's own guidance, good faith is a factor the Secretary of State is legally required to weigh. We intend to ensure that argument reaches the Secretary of State directly.

We further note that the DfE's Change of Circumstance notification window opens on 6 April 2026. Any submission of such a notification against our student records, without our agreement and without a remedy having been offered, will constitute a material change to the terms of our enrolment and will be treated as a breach of contract and a violation of our rights under consumer protection law, including the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.

If we do not receive a satisfactory response by 18:00 on Friday 3 April 2026, we will, without further notice, take the following steps collectively:

1. Student Loans Company (SLC): We will each file a formal review request with the SLC, citing LSST's and BNU's failure to implement the agreed timetable as the cause of our ineligibility, and requesting that the 27 April 2026 payment be held pending resolution.
2. Office for Students (OfS): We will file a formal group complaint regarding LSST's and BNU's failure to meet student protection obligations, including failure to inform students of funding eligibility changes before 28 February 2026, and failure to implement promised changes to course delivery.
3. Department for Education (DfE): We will write collectively to the DfE citing the Secretary of State's public statement, Regulation 119, and the failure of LSST and BNU to act on the DfE's own operational instructions.
4. Members of Parliament: We will contact our respective MPs across Greater London constituencies, requesting urgent ministerial intervention before the 6 April 2026 Change of Circumstance window.
5. Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA): We will lodge formal complaints with the OIA, with the internal complaints process being initiated in parallel with this letter.
6. Consumer protection: We will seek advice on our rights under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 and pursue claims for misrepresentation and damages against BNU as the awarding body and franchise holder.
7. Media: We will share our situation with journalists covering higher education, including those already reporting on the national crisis affecting 22,000 students.

We remain available to meet with senior management at the earliest opportunity and would welcome an urgent meeting before the Friday 3 April deadline.

Yours sincerely,