Unfortunately I do not know enough about the following point, although I'm sure somebody will put me right.
Will the new deal mean that when you validate, you start earning an ATCO's wage immediately??
If so, then that surely has to be a good option. That way you will be rewarded for validating and not, as is the current scheme, stuck on a lower pay scale for months on end whilst you operate on your licence.
I would have taken £14,000 to train, knowing that the day I validated I would go onto the 'grown ups' pay scale.