Education Maintenance Allowances: 2014-15

Summary of Key Findings

• 33,180 school pupils and college students received EMA payments in Scotland in the academic year 2014-15, a decrease of 6% (2,290) from 35,470 in 2013-14 (Table 1).

• School pupils account for 68% of young people who received an EMA payment, with college students accounting for the remaining 32%.

• Of all 16-19 year old school pupils in Scotland, 31% (22,530) received an EMA payment in 2014-15. Of all full time 16-19 year old college students, 22% (10,650) received an EMA payment in 2014-15 (Table 1).

• The proportion of EMA recipients living in Scotland's 20% most deprived areas in 2014-15 was the highest on record at 35% (11,635), although the actual number of recipients decreased by 540 from 12,175 in 2013-14 (Table 2). Among school pupils receiving EMAs, 33% were living in the 20% most deprived areas, while among college students receiving EMAs, 38% were living in the 20% most deprived areas. (Table 3).

• The total amount spent on EMA payments in 2014-15 was £26.5 million, a decrease of £2.1 million from £28.6 million in 2013-14 (Table 4). Of this, £18.6 million (70%) was paid out to school pupils, and the remaining £7.9 million (30%) was paid out to young people attending college (Table 5).