EDUCATION, ENGLAND AND WALES Citation, commencement and application 1 1 These Regulations may be cited as the Education (Teacher Student Loans)(Repayment etc.) Regulations 2003 and shall come into force on 1st September 2003. 2 These Regulations shall apply to England and Wales. Interpretation 2 1 In these Regulations: “ 1990 Act ” means the Education (Student Loans) Act 1990 ; “ 1998 Act ” means the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 ; “basic skills” means literacy, numeracy and English as a second language; “commencement date” means the date that an eligible teacher becomes eligible for repayment or reduction of amounts in respect of loans in accordance with these Regulations for the first time , or 1st September 2002 , whichever is the later; “ EEA Agreement ” means the Agreement on the European Economic Area signed at Oporto on 2nd May 1992 as adjusted by the Protocol signed at Brussels on 17th March 1993 and amended by the Agreement between the European Community and its Member States of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other, on the Free Movement of Persons signed at Luxembourg on 21st June 1999 and which came into force on 1st June 2002 ; “eligible employment” has the meaning given by regulation 4; “eligible teacher” means a person whom the Secretary of State has determined is eligible for repayment or reduction of amounts in respect of loans in accordance with these Regulations; “employment” means employment under a contract of service and related words shall be construed accordingly; “ European Economic Area ” means the European Community and subject to the conditions laid down in the EEA Agreement the area comprised by the Republic of Iceland, the Kingdom of Norway, the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Swiss Confederation; “FE teaching qualification” means a qualification a teacher is required to hold under the Further Education Teachers' Qualifications (England) Regulations 2001 or the Further Education Teachers' Qualifications (Wales) Regulations 2002 ; “FE teaching qualification course” has the same meaning as “relevant course” in regulation 4 of the Further Education Teachers' Qualifications (England) Regulations 2001 and the Further Education Teachers' Qualifications (Wales) Regulations 2002; “full-time” employment is full-time if the contract of employment so provides; “further education” has the meaning given by section 2 of the Education Act 1996 ; “income contingent loan” has the meaning given by regulation 7; “institution within the further education sector” has the same meaning as in section 91 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 ; “institution within the higher education sector” has the same meaning as in section 91 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992; “management position” means— in relation to a teacher at a school, the position of head teacher, deputy head teacher or assistant head teacher; and in relation to a teacher at any other relevant institution, an equivalent position; “mortgage style loan” has the meaning given by regulation 7; “non-maintained special school” means a special school which is not maintained by a local education authority; “outstanding” means outstanding on the commencement date; “parental responsibility” has the same meaning as in section 3 of the Children Act 1989 ; “part-time” employment is part-time if the contract of employment requires the employee to work for less than the whole of the working week; “primary school” has the same meaning as in section 5 of the Education Act 1996 ; “primary specialist” means a teacher at a primary school who is employed to teach one or more shortage subjects to classes or groups other than his own; “relevant institution” means an institution mentioned in regulation 4(1)(a); “school” means a school maintained by a local education authority, a non-maintained special school or a school established and maintained under an agreement pursuant to section 482 of the Education Act 1996 ; “school maintained by a local education authority” means a community school, foundation school, voluntary school, community special school, foundation special school or pupil referral unit; “shortage subjects” means mathematics, science, design and technology, information and communications technology, any modern language, Welsh, English (including drama), engineering, construction and basic skills; “specialist college” means an educational institution which provides further education for persons with learning difficulties or disabilities which is in receipt of funding from the Learning and Skills Council for England or the National Council for Education and Training for Wales ; “special school” has the meaning given by section 337 of the Education Act 1996 ; and “student loan” has the meaning given by regulation 7. 2 For the purposes of these Regulations an area which— a was previously not part of the European Economic Area, but b at any time before or after these Regulations come into force has become part of that area shall be considered to have always been part of that area. 3 For the purposes of these Regulations any reference to an “employer” in relation to a teacher working at a community, community special or voluntary controlled school is a reference to the governing body of that school. Eligibility 3 1 Subject to paragraph (3), a person shall be eligible for the reduction of amounts payable in respect of loans if he— a is in eligible employment; b is a person mentioned in regulation 5; and c has an outstanding loan made pursuant to any regulations made under section 22 of the 1998 Act. 2 Subject to paragraph (3), a person shall be eligible for the repayment of amounts payable in respect of loans if he— a is in eligible employment; b is a person mentioned in regulation 5; and c has either: i an outstanding mortgage style loan; ii an outstanding loan made pursuant to any regulations made under section 73 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 ; or iii an outstanding loan made pursuant to the Education (Student Support) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 . 3 Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), the Secretary of State may determine that a person is not eligible for the repayment or reduction of amounts in respect of loans if he— a is in breach of any obligation contained in any agreement for a student loan or in any regulations or order under which a loan mentioned in paragraph (2) is made; b has outstanding charges or penalties in relation to such a loan pursuant to any such agreement, regulation or order; or c has, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, shown himself by his conduct to be unfitted to be so eligible. Eligible employment 4 1 A person is in eligible employment if he— a is employed to work as a teacher at— i an institution within the further education sector, ii an institution within the higher education sector, or iii a specialist college, in England or Wales; b is employed under a permanent contract or a fixed-term contract of employment for a period of at least 8 continuous weeks with a relevant institution or a local education authority; c subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), is employed under a contract of employment which commenced on or after 1st July 2002 and before 1st July 2005; d in relation to employment as a teacher at a primary school, is employed for at least half his teaching time as a primary specialist; e in relation to employment at a school other than a primary school, is employed for at least half his teaching time to teach one or more shortage subjects; and f in relation to employment at an institution other than a school, is employed for at least half his teaching time to teach one or more shortage subjects in further education. 2 Subject to paragraphs(3) and (5) and regulation 6, a person shall cease to be in eligible employment where he changes employer. 3 A person remains in eligible employment where— a he changes employer but remains in eligible employment within the meaning of paragraph (1) but disregarding paragraph (1)(c); b he changes employer but remains in eligible employment within the meaning of paragraph (1) but disregarding paragraph(1)(c),(d),(e)and(f)and he works in a management position; c he ceases to teach a shortage subject for a period of not more than 12 months in any continuous period of 24 months and continues to teach at the same relevant institution, and his employer certifies that this cessation is in the interests of the relevant institution; or d he is employed at a specialist college which ceases to be funded by the Learning and Skills Council for England or the National Council for Education and Training for Wales. 4 Paragraph (1)(c) shall not apply to any further eligible employment an eligible teacher obtains in addition to his existing eligible employment. 5 A person does not remain in eligible employment for the purposes of paragraph (3) (a) and (b) if— a he changes his employer and that change results in a break of more than 7 days between his ceasing one eligible employment and commencing another, or b he changes his employer and that change results in his ceasing to work as a teacher qualified to teach at an institution within the further education sector and his commencing work at a school where he is not qualified to teach. Newly qualified teacher 5 1 Subject to paragraph (4), a person mentioned in regulation 3(1)(b) and 3 (2)(b) in relation to eligible employment at a school, is a person who has qualified as a teacher on or after 1st February 2002 and not more than 7 months before commencing eligible employment. 2 For the purposes of paragraph (1) a person is a qualified teacher— a subject to sub - paragraph (d), when he has received written notification from the Secretary of State that he is a qualified teacher pursuant to paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Education (Teachers' Qualifications and Health Standards) (England) Regulations 1999 ; b subject to sub-paragraph (d), when he has received written notification from the General Teaching Council for England that he has been awarded qualified teacher status under regulations made under section 132 of the Education Act 2002 ; c subject to sub-paragraph (d), when he has received written notification from the National Assembly for Wales that he is a qualified teacher pursuant to paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Education (Teachers' Qualifications and Health Standards)(Wales) Regulations 1999 ; d when he— i has successfully completed a course of initial teacher training for teachers in schools at an educational institution in Scotland or Northern Ireland; or ii has successfully completed a diploma which shows that he has the professional qualifications required for taking up teaching within the meaning of Council Directive 89/48/ EEC . 3 Subject to paragraph (4), a person mentioned in regulation 3(1)(b) and 3(2)(b) in relation to eligible employment other than at a school, is a person who— a has been awarded an FE teaching qualification on or after 1st February 2002 and not more than 7 months before commencing eligible employment; or b is attending an FE teaching qualification course in order to obtain an FE teaching qualification; and has not at any time before the commencement of his eligible employment been employed as a teacher— i at a relevant institution; or ii at a school or institution in the European Economic Area providing education which is equivalent to primary, secondary or further education and which is part of the public system of education of the state or territory in question. 4 Where a woman has given birth to a child during the 7 month period after she qualifies as a teacher or has been awarded an FE teaching qualification for the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (3)(a) then references to 7 months in paragraphs (1) and (3) shall be read as references to 19 months. Allowable breaks from eligible employment 6 1 Notwithstanding regulations 4(1)(c) and 5, a person who has ceased eligible employment shall be treated as an eligible teacher where— a he recommences eligible employment; b he ceased to be in eligible employment for any reason other than that mentioned in paragraph (2)(b); c the period during which he was not in eligible employment for that reason does not exceed 12 months in relation to any single break from eligible employment; and d the period during which he was not in eligible employment for that reason does not exceed 36 months in total. 2 Notwithstanding regulations 4(1) (c) and 5, a person who has ceased eligible employment shall be treated as an eligible teacher where— a he recommences eligible employment; b he ceased to be in eligible employment for the purpose of caring for any child for whom he has parental responsibility and with whom he has his home; and c the period during which he was not in eligible employment for this purpose does not exceed 60 months in total. 3 For the purposes of this regulation a person may cease to be in eligible employment more than once. Definition of loans 7 1 A student loan is a mortgage style loan or an income contingent loan. 2 A mortgage style loan is a loan including the interest accrued on the loan towards a student’s maintenance, made pursuant to arrangements made under— a section 1 of the 1990 Act, or b the Education (Student Loans) (Northern Ireland) Order 1990 . 3 An income-contingent loan is a loan including the interest accrued on the loan towards a student’s maintenance, made pursuant to any regulations made under— a section 22 of the 1998 Act, b section 73 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, or c the Education (Student Support) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998. Application 8 1 A person shall apply for repayment or reduction under these Regulations by completing an application in such form as the Secretary of State may require. 2 Where a person returns to eligible employment following a break under regulation 6 he shall apply for repayment or reduction under these Regulations by completing an application in such form as the Secretary of State may require. 3 An applicant shall submit an application under this r egulation— a first, to his employer who must comply with the requirements of regulation 10(1) and (3); and b second, to the Secretary of State not later than a date specified by the Secretary of State. 4 The Secretary of State may take such steps and make such inquiries as he considers necessary to determine whether a person is eligible. 5 If the Secretary of State considers that an applicant is eligible for repayment or reduction under these Regulations he shall notify him of that fact, and thenceforth the applicant shall be an “eligible teacher” for the purposes of these Regulations. 6 Where the Secretary of State considers that having regard to the circumstances of the particular case a time limit set by him should be relaxed, any application under this regulation must reach him not later than such later date as he specifies. 7 Any application under this regulation shall include a declaration signed by the applicant that: a the particulars given in the application are correct to the best of his knowledge and belief; and b he will notify the Secretary of State of any change in his employment or personal details. Information 9 1 Every applicant and every eligible teacher shall forthwith inform the Secretary of State if the following occurs, and provide him with particulars— a he ceases to be in eligible employment; b he changes eligible employment; c he enters into a new contract with his existing employer; d he recommences eligible employment and regulation 6 applies; e he changes from part-time to full-time employment or from full-time employment to part-time employment; f in relation to a part-time eligible teacher, he changes the proportion of the working week he is employed to work; g his address changes. 2 Every applicant and every eligible teacher shall as soon as reasonably practicable after he is requested to do so provide the Secretary of State with such information as the Secretary of State considers necessary for the exercise of his functions under these Regulations. 3 If the Secretary of State is satisfied that an eligible teacher has failed to comply with any requirement to provide information or has provided information which the eligible teacher knows to be false in a material particular or has recklessly provided information which is false in a material particular he may determine that the eligible teacher shall— a no longer be an eligible teacher under these Regulations, or b not be an eligible teacher for any particular repayment or reduction or particular amount of repayment or reduction as he considers appropriate in the circumstances. Provision of information by employers and the General Teaching Councils 10 1 After receiving an application for repayment or reduction of a loan under these Regulations from an applicant under regulation 8(3)(a), the employer of the applicant shall provide such further information as the Secretary of State may require and return the application to the applicant. 2 An employer of an applicant or eligible teacher shall as soon as reasonably practicable after he is requested to do so provide the Secretary of State with such information as the Secretary of State considers necessary for the exercise of his functions under these Regulations. 3 In providing information under this regulation the employer shall sign a declaration that the particulars given in the application by the applicant are correct to the best of the employer’s knowledge and belief. 4 The General Teaching Council for England and the General Teaching Council for Wales shall as soon as practicable after they are requested to do so provide the Secretary of State with such information as the Secretary of State considers necessary for the exercise of his functions under these Regulations. Repayment and reduction 11 1 The Secretary of State shall reduce the relevant amount of an eligible teacher to whom regulation 3(1) applies in accordance with regulations 12 and 13. 2 The Secretary of State shall repay the relevant amount of an eligible teacher to whom regulation 3(2) applies in accordance with regulations 12 and 13. 3 Subject to paragraph (4), in relation to any student loans, the relevant amount is— a the total amount payable in respect of any loans outstanding at the commencement date; and b any interest accrued on those loans during any period of eligible employment during the relevant term, and shall not include any arrears, charges or penalties incurred in respect of those loans. 4 Where a person— a recommences eligible employment following a break under regulation 6; and b has made repayments in relation to any loan during that break, the relevant amount is the total amount payable in respect of any loans mentioned in paragraph (3) still outstanding at the date he recommences eligible employment and any interest accrued during any period of eligible employment from that date during the relevant term. 12 1 The relevant term in relation to a mortgage style loan is— a a period of 5 years beginning with the commencement date where the eligible teacher has fewer than 5 loans when his first repayment is due; b a period of 7 years beginning with the commencement date where the eligible teacher has 5 or more loans when his first repayment is due, less any period when the eligible teacher was not in eligible employment in relation to which repayments have been made pursuant to the arrangements made under section 1 of the 1990 Act or the Education (Student Loans) (Northern Ireland) Order 1990. 2 The relevant term in relation to an income contingent loan is 10 years after the commencement date. 3 A person shall cease to be eligible for a reduction or repayment after the completion of the relevant term. 13 1 Subject to this regulation, the relevant amount shall be reduced or repaid during the relevant term so that it is extinguished or wholly repaid by the completion of the relevant term. 2 Where an eligible teacher is in part-time employment the relevant amount shall only be reduced or repaid in accordance with the proportion of the working week the teacher is employed to work. 3 No reduction or repayment shall be made in respect of any period during the relevant term when a person ceases to be eligible under these Regulations. 4 The total amount reduced or repaid shall not exceed the lesser of the following— a the total amount payable in respect of any student loans outstanding at the commencement date and any interest accrued on those loans during any period of eligible employment during the relevant term; or b where any student loans have been repaid, cancelled or reduced pursuant to these Regulations, the total amount payable in respect of any loans outstanding following such repayment, cancellation or reduction. 5 Repayments and reductions shall be made in such manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate, and he may make it a condition of entitlement to repayment that the eligible teacher shall provide him with particulars of a bank or building society account in the United Kingdom into which repayments may be made by electronic transfer. Reimbursement 14 1 Where in the opinion of the Secretary of State any information or assumption on the basis of which a reduction or repayment has been made under these Regulations is incorrect— a the person to whom a repayment was made shall at the request of the Secretary of State reimburse such sum as the Secretary of State may request; or b the Secretary of State shall increase the amount outstanding in respect of a student loan by such sum as he may specify. 2 The total sum that the Secretary of State may request or specify shall not exceed the total amount repaid or reduced and any interest accrued on those amounts since the repayment or reduction was made. David Miliband Minister of State, Department for Education and Skills 21st July 2003