Definition of Art Foundation - Secondary Education in a Consent Order?

[Hettyispink]

Posted this in the divorce thread, but thinking someone might be able to help here too.

My daughter turned 18 last month, has just done 3 Art A Levels and will be doing Art Foundation next year, before applying to University to do Graphics. This is the usual path into an art degree (to build her portfolio etc). I had always thought this year would be a part of her Secondary Education.

My Ex husband has stopped her maintenance payments, which will leave me with a large shortfall for a year. He’s phoned the college and the receptionist told him Art Foundation is Further Education, not Secondary.

My Consent Order states that maintenance stops at the end of Secondary Education or when the child turns 18.

It seems Art Foundation is a grey area.

I’m now overdrawn - as I didn’t see this coming - not sure what to do.

A foundation course is seen as Higher education BUT you would get child benefit and taz creditsr for this year I believe, if your child is under 19 they get tax credits/ child benefit etc though,

To be clearer my I think your ex can wriggle out of CM but child related benefits like tax credits are payable.

An Art Foundation course is Further Education. It may be taught by a Higher Education institution though for funding reasons this is increasingly rare.
If the child is under 19 the fees will be paid by the state.

Not done at school and they are not secondary education. It’s a foundation for a degree but in addition to A levels.