Two sixth form students have taken the Government to court over the introduction of increased tuition fees, on the basis that the act breaches their human rights.

Callum Hurley and Katy Moore, both 17, were represented by Phil Shiner, a solicitor at the Birmingham based practise, Public Interest Lawyers, who are also involved in legal action currently being taken against Scottish universities.

Hurley, who is currently studying for a BTec in Software Development, was one of thousands kettled during the December demonstrations, and believes that “taking legal action will achieve much more”.

Moore, who is taking her A-Levels, believes that change in fees have made “it difficult to decide what to do about our futures” and has said that many of her peers are confused as to what they will have to pay.

Speaking on behalf of the pair, Sam Jacobs said that the legislation, which saw fees almost tripled, is in breach of both human rights and equality legislation.

It was argued that the potential for £50,000 debt on leaving higher education will indiscriminately deter those from less privileged backgrounds. This, they claim, contravenes the Human Rights Act 1999.

Speaking out on the matter, Jacobs criticised the government for the “woeful failure to give ‘due regard’ to equality of opportunity”, and the “rushed manner” in which the decision was made.