Education Maintenance Allowances 2017-18

19th April 2019

Scotland's Chief Statistician today published statistics on Education Maintenance Allowances (EMA) in the academic year 2017-18. EMA provides financial support for young people aged 16 to 19 years from low-income households to overcome financial barriers to participate in school or college courses, or in an activity agreement.

Key findings include:

29,135 school pupils, college students and individuals on activity agreements received EMA payments in Scotland in the academic year 2017-18, a decrease of 8.0% (-2,540) from 31,675 in 2016-17.

School pupils accounted for 64.2% of young people in receipt of EMA payment. 31.3% were college students and the remaining 4.5% were young people on activity agreements.

Of all 16-19 year old school pupils in Scotland, 27% received EMA payments in 2017 18.

Of the potentially eligible 16-19 year old college students in Scotland, 31% received EMA payments in 2017-18.

The proportion of EMA recipients living in Scotland’s 20% most deprived areas in 2017 18 increased to 37.2% (10,810). For school pupils receiving EMA, 34.2% (6,390) were living in the 20% most deprived areas. For colleges this was 41.9% (3,800) and for young people on activity agreements this was 47.9% (620).

The total amount spent on EMA payments in 2017-18 was £23.0 million, a decrease of around £1.7 million from £24.6 million in 2016-17. Of this, £15.7 million (68.4%) was paid out to school pupils, £6.6 million (28.7%) to college students, and the remaining £0.7 million (2.9%) to young people on activity agreements.