FOI release

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

Published 14 July 2010

© Crown copyright 2010

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/education-maintenance-allowance-ema/education-maintenance-allowance-ema

  • Date requested: 24 June 2010
  • Publish date: 14 July 2010
  • Updated: 10 January 2011

1. Request

Can the Department provide information to the following questions?

  1. In 2008-2009 how many students in England and Wales received Educational Maintenance Allowance?

  2. In 2008-2009 how many students in England and Wales received the £10 per week means tested Educational Maintenance Allowance?

  3. In 2008-2009 how many students in England and Wales received the £20 per week means tested Educational Maintenance Allowance?

  4. In 2008-2009 how many students in England and Wales received the £30 per week means tested Educational Maintenance Allowance?

  5. In 2008- 2009 Which region of England and Wales had the most students in receipt of Educational Maintenance Allowance?

  6. In 2008-2009 what was the total amount in Pounds Sterling of Educational Maintenance Allowance given to students in England and Wales?

  7. In 2008-2009 What was the total cost to the Exchequer for the distribution of Educational Maintenance Allowance in England and Wales, including staff costs, total amount in Pounds Sterling of EMA given out to students, administration costs, and all other costs?

  8. In 2009-2010 how many students in England and Wales received Educational Maintenance Allowance?

  9. In 2009-2010 how many students in England and Wales received the £10 per week means tested Educational Maintenance Allowance?

  10. In 2009-2010 how many students in England and Wales received the £20 per week means tested Educational Maintenance Allowance?

  11. In 2009-2010 how many students in England and Wales received the £30 per week means tested Educational Maintenance Allowance?

  12. In 2009-2010 which region of England and Wales had the most students in receipt of Educational Maintenance Allowance?

  13. In 2009-2010 what was the total amount in Pounds Sterling of Educational Maintenance Allowance given to students in England and Wales?

  14. In 2009-2010 what was the total cost to the Exchequer for the distribution of Educational Maintenance Allowance in England and Wales, including staff costs, total amount in Pounds Sterling of EMA given out to students, administration costs, and all other costs?

  15. What are the total projected costs to the Exchequer, for 2010-2011 for the distribution of Educational Maintenance Allowance in England and Wales, including staff costs, total amount in Pounds Sterling of EMA given out to students, administration costs, and all other costs?

  16. What was the total drop out rate of those students in receipt of EMA in years 2008-2009?

  17. What was the total drop out rate of those students in receipt of EMA in years 2009-2010?

  18. How many more students were there in receipt of Education Maintenance Allowance in years 2009-2010 than in years 2008-2009?

  19. What is the Coalition Government’s policy with regard to Educational Maintenance Allowance in England and Wales?

  20. Since the introduction of Educational Maintenance Allowance for students in England and Wales, what have the total costs for the set up of EMA, distribution of Educational Maintenance Allowance in England and Wales, including staff costs, total amount in Pounds Sterling of EMA given out to students, administration costs, and all other costs?

2. Release

The information to questions 1 to 18 and question 20 has been sought from the Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA). The YPLA operates EMA on behalf of the Department for Education.

Answer to Q1. For the academic year 2008/09, EMA take-up in England was 581,899. Take-up is defined as an eligible learner receiving at least one EMA payment.

Answer to Q2. For the academic year, 2008/09, take-up of EMA in England in the £10 band was 43,812.

Answer to Q3. For the academic year, 2008/09, take-up of EMA in England in the £20 band was 50,500.

Answer to Q4. For the academic year, 2008/09, take-up of EMA in England in the £30 band was 487,587. Note that this figure includes all those in receipt of EMA in the £30 band, including a small number who are not income assessed, for example, care leavers and other particularly disadvantaged groups.

Answer to Q5. For the academic year, 2008/09, take-up of EMA in England was highest in London.

Answer to Q6. £490,202,770 (England).

Answer to Q7. £517,323,152 (England).

Answer to Q8. Please note that for questions relating to the academic year 2009/10, the information provided relates up to and including 24 June 2010, i.e. before the end of the academic year and therefore there may be a variation in the final figures. As at 24 June 2010, EMA take-up in England is 638,793 for the academic year 2009/10.

Answer to Q9. As at 24 June 2010, EMA take-up in England within the £10 band is 45,519 for the academic year 2009/10.

Answer to Q10. As at 24 June 2010, EMA take-up in England within the £20 band is 55,173 for the academic year 2009/10.

Answer to Q11. As at 24 June 2010, EMA take-up in England within the £30 band is 538,101 for the academic year 2009/10. Note that this figure includes all those in receipt of EMA in the £30 band, including a small number who are not income assessed, for example, care leavers and other particularly disadvantaged groups.

Answer to Q12. As at 24 June 2010, take-up of EMA in England is highest in the North West for the academic year, 2009/10.

Answer to Q13. £553,614,060. Please note that this amount is provisional and subject to confirmation in the LSC annual accounts for 2009-10 which are due to be laid before Parliament later this month and published thereafter.

Answer to Q14. £585,188,052. Please note that this amount is provisional and subject to confirmation in the LSC annual accounts for 2009-10 which are due to be laid before Parliament later this month and published thereafter.

Answer to Q15. The total budget for EMA for 2010-11 is £564,000,000 (England). Please note that this figure is the projected amount and may be subject to change.

Answer to Q16 & 17. The information for questions 16 and 17 is not held by the Department or by the YPLA.

Answer to Q18. As at 24 June 2010 there are 62,649 more learners in receipt of EMA than in the 2008/09 academic year.

Answer to Q19. Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) will be paid in full in the 2010/11 academic year. Longer term plans for financial support for students aged between 16 and 19 will be considered in the context of the Comprehensive Spending Review in the autumn.

Answer to Q20. £2,534,334,605. Please note that this amount includes a provisional figure for 2009-10 which is subject to confirmation in the LSC annual accounts for 2009-10. The accounts are due to be laid before Parliament later this month and published thereafter.

Please note that while EMA exists across the UK, policy relating to its operation is a devolved matter, therefore the responses given here are applicable to EMA provision in England only. For your questions relating to EMA provision in Wales you may wish to contact the Welsh assembly Government:

3. Contact details

Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills
Welsh Assembly Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
DCELLS.Enquiries@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Back to top