MORE than 1,000 Swindon students were given fresh hope of keeping crucial grants to fund their studies after campaigners announced they were launching a legal challenge against plans to axe the cash.

Ministers announced they were scrapping the educational maintenance allowance (EMA) – weekly payments of up to £30 to help sixth formers from poorer homes stay on in education – in October despite previously promising it would survive.

That has left thousands of students who started courses in the autumn facing the prospect of having to complete their second year without any financial support.

The Education Secretary insisted EMA had to go because its £500m cost is too high and has insisted help will be put in place for the poorest students but has yet to explain how a different scheme will operate.

But the Save EMA Campaign has announced it is drafting a court action against Education Secretary Michael Gove, arguing his decision to axe the funding breached a contract.

Lewis Rogers, 17, of Haydon Wick, who studies AS levels in English, history of art, drama and graphics at Cirencester College, does not receive an EMA but believes the payment is vital for some of his fellow students.

He said: “I do think it is important to keep the EMA. It makes it much easier for people to stay in college and get to college and get the equipment you need, like books and stationery and things like that.

“If it were taken away, I think people would feel less supported and it would be hard for people to carry on in education.”

The principals of Swindon’s two further education colleges have expressed concern over the Government’s move to abolish the EMA.

In a joint statement, Andrew Miller and Graham Taylor, said: “Evidence shows that the EMA has had a positive impact on recruitment, retention and achievement and has helped to increase the number of young people staying on in post-16 education in the borough.

“The allowance is of great significance to families in Swindon and for many it has become an essential part of their household income.

“We are seriously concerned about the impact of its withdrawal on our disadvantaged young people and on the number of those staying on in education in the town.

“While we appreciate that these are difficult economic times, we believe that financial support for young people continuing their education and training is a valuable investment for the future of the country.”

College students have already presented a petition to the two Swindon MPs, Justin Tomlinson and Robert Buckland, and meetings are planned to further discuss the issue with both MPs.

Hopes of a legal challenge rose when Mr Gove lost in the High Court earlier this month, over his decision to scrap the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. That move was condemned as an “abuse of power”.

Now lawyers have suggested the new case could target Mr Gove over a “failure to consult” before axing EMA – the very reason he lost on BSF.