College Course only for under 19's - legal?

[Jeanie]

My daughter enrolled at an agricultural college last year to do a three year full time OCN course in dog grooming.  She started on the Foundation Course, which she successfully completed last term - and had planned to continue on to the Intermediate Course next September.  However, in the last week of term the college found out that the Learning Skills Council would not be funding courses for the under 19's any more (my daughter is 20) - so they have decided that the OCN course will now be available to the under 19's only. 

The only other course they can offer my daughter is a one year, one day a week course which would have to be paid for (around �1500) and only gives her a college certificate at the end, rather than allowing her to enter for the recognised exams. 

The funding is not the issue as far as I am concerned, as we would be willing to pay for her (or get a Career Development/whatever loan) as all private dog grooming schools charge a fortune anyway - and they are obviously expecting us to pay for the one day a week course.

She really wants to continue on the OCN course for the remaining two years, and we would be willing to fund it.  However, the choice has been taken away from her due to this decision to only open the course to the Under 19's. 

I can understand that their hands are tied with regard to the Learning Skills Council, but surely the OCN course should still be on offer to the older students? BTW - my daughter is not alone with this problem, as about three quarters of her tutor group are all over the age of 19 - and some of them much older than my daughter.   

As a college offering vocational training with an equal opportunities policy - does anyone know if they are legally allowed to stipulate an age limit for their courses? 

[MountainZOR]

I just got into the same program, and I had to drop out of college because of it. My parents could not pay for my education because it was very expensive, but I was not upset and thought about what I should do next. Considering how many of my friends earn a lot of money, I decided to enroll in one of the nail technician schools(https://www.nwcollege.edu/programs/nail-technology) (some of my friends have completed courses in nail technology, work in salons, and earn a lot of money). I am studying to be a nail technician and have already received job offers. To come back to your situation -- it seems to me that you need to ask your child if she likes this college.