Education Maintenance Allowances Awarded In Wales 2009/10 (provisional)

This Statistical First 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.

The data, based on applications received by 25 December 2009, are correct as at 31 December 2009(1).

The key points from the latest release are:

• By 25 December 2009, a total of 37,480 EMA Wales applications had been received, an increase of 10 per cent compared with the same point in 2008/09.
• 34,280 (91 per cent) of applications received were approved, whilst 740 (2 per cent) applications were rejected.
• 83 per cent of approved applications were from students with a household income of £21,885 or less and thus were entitled to the maximum EMA of £30 per week.
• 15,420 (45 per cent) of approved applications in 2009/10 were for 16 year olds. 13,640 (40 per cent) were for 17 year olds and 5,230 (15 per cent) were for 18 year olds and over.
• Retention bonuses were paid in September to 14,200 students continuing their studies from 2008/09, an increase of 17 per cent compared with the same stage last year.

(1) The current academic year's figures are updated monthly and are correct at time of publication. They are subject to revisions following further SLC processing, for example due to applications being re-classified from EMA to “Pathways to Apprenticeships” or vice versa.

Further information can be found on the StatsWales website.

Contact

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

Next update

September 2010 (provisional - to be confirmed on the 'Due Out Soon' page)