Education Maintenance Allowances Awarded in Wales, 2008/09

This Statistical Release presents information on the number of Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) awarded to students aged 16, 17 and 18 in further education in Welsh schools and further education institutions for academic year 2008/09. The latest release updates the statistics previously released on 29 January 2009.

Key results:

• By 31st August 2009, a total of 35,200 EMA Wales applications had been received for 2008/09, an increase of 6 per cent compared with 2007/08.
• 32,700 (93 per cent) of applications received were approved, an increase of 5 per cent compared with 2007/08. 880 (2 per cent) of applications were rejected.
• 15,540 of approved applications in 2008/09 were for 16 year olds.  This is an increase of 5 per cent compared with 2007/08.
• 83 per cent of approved applications were from students with a household income of £21,330 or less and thus were entitled to the maximum EMA of £30 per week, compared with 82 per cent in 2007/08.
• Females accounted for 53 per cent of all applications and approved applications received.
• Retention bonuses were paid in September 2008 to 12,710 students continuing their studies from 2007/08, an increase of 6 per cent compared with the previous year.

Further information can be found on the StatsWales website

Contact

Tel: 029 2082 3895
E-mail: post16ed.stats@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Next update

January 2010 (provisional – to be confirmed on the Due Out Soon page)