Recoup training costs

[Ss595]

I am currently studying which has been funded by my employer. I am sitting my final exam on 5th March and leave my current employment on 8th march.
I was asked to sign a training contract at the start of last year, half way through my studies, to say I would pay back the last 12 months they have funded if I leave.
However I asked for some amendments to be made to the contract before I would agree to sign it, and the contract was never returned to me to sign so I have not signed the contract.
My employer has said that the internal legal team have said I still have to pay back the last 12 months as I saw the contract and still accepted their funding for my studies.
I am looking for some advice on this, to know where I legally stand and if it is worth fighting?

[ULA]

Hi, so the training contract given to you, since it was part way through the training did it only relate to the costs of the training from that point onwards?

Was the contract given to you and your amendments returned prior to the costs of the final part of the training being made by the company? If yes then my view is that you were aware of the repayment terms prior to the payment of the fees by the company and in accepting that these be paid you agreed to the terms of the repayment. If you have proof of your amendments and the date they were returned back to the company then you may have recourse to argue that the terms of the repayment should be in line with any amendments you have made since there was no indication from the company that they had rejected them.