WIREDGOV

Statistics on school pupils and college students supported under the Education Maintenance Allowance scheme were published yesterday by Scotland's Chief Statistician.These statistics relate to the 2009-10 academic year.

Key findings include:

• 37,230 school pupils and college students received EMA payments in Scotland in the academic year 2009-10. 63 per cent of recipients were school pupils and 37 per cent were college students. 47 per cent of recipients were male and 53 per cent were female.
• 36 per cent or 23,290 of the 64,648 school pupils aged 16-19 years old in Scotland received an EMA payment in 2009-10.
• The number of young people in receipt of EMA decreased by 5 per cent (or 1,770) from 39,000 in 2008-09 to 37,230 in 2009-10. This decrease was due to the closure of the £10 and £20 a week payments to new entrants in 2009-10, with the number of young people in receipt of the £30 a week payments increasing by 9 per cent (or 2,935).
• 24 per cent of recipients (whose deprivation classification was known) in 2009-10 lived in one of Scotland's 15 per cent most deprived areas.
• £33.2 million was paid out under the EMA scheme in academic year 2009-10. This has decreased by 6 per cent (or £2.2 million) from £35.4 million in 2008-09.
• The vast majority of EMA spend (95 per cent or £31.4 million) in 2009-10 was paid out to those in receipt of the maximum £30 a week category. The £10 and £20 a week categories were closed to new entrants in 2009-10. The majority of EMA spend (81 per cent or £26.8 million) was paid out in weekly payments, with the remaining 19 per cent (£6.4 million) paid out in bonus payments.
• £23.5 million (or 71 per cent) was paid out under the EMA scheme to school pupils in 2009-10. The remaining £9.7 million (or 29 per cent) was paid out to young people attending a college.

This is a National Statistics publication. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

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