The teenagers who get paid to go to school in Wales

Wales Online

28-04-2025

The teenagers who get paid to go to school in Wales
Education Maintenance Allowance is a 'vital' way to keep teenagers studying and not give up school, said one teacher where more than half of sixth formers get the payment
"EMA has been fundamental to my success," says Evan Gill 18, who is about to take maths, further maths, physics and geopgraphy A levels and is going on to university.
(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne )
Teenagers have described the cost of staying in school with some saying they could not afford to stay in education after the age of 16 without extra help from the Welsh Government. They were speaking after thousands more 16 to 18 year olds were made eligible for a £40 weekly payment from the Welsh Government. The Education Maintenance Allowance aims to help teenagers who return to study after year 11 with transport, food, stationery, text books and other costs like kit they need.
The payment was described as "essential" and "vital" with the cost of living hiking up prices. One inner city school said more than half of pupils in its sixth form get the Education Maintenance Allowance. With the criteria for who can get it now widened that is expected to rise.
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Matthew Rea head of sixth form at Fitzalan High in Cardiff, where 40% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, said: "We have 350 pupils in sixth form and 186 access EMA. It is vitally important. Some pupils would not return to sixth form without it." For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
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Rahma Liban, 16, said weekly £40 EMA payments were one reason she'll be returning for A levels after taking GCSEs at Fitzalan High this summer
(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne )
EMA gives eligible learners in Wales aged 16 to 18 £40 a week to help with education related costs and learning materials You can read about who can get EMA and how to apply here.
"We all know the increase in the cost of living and you get to see that on a daily basis in school from referrals in access to our food bank. EMA is vitally important."
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Rahma Liban, 16, who will finish year 11 after GCSEs this summer was undecided about whether to leave education altogether. She said the £40 weekly EMA payment persuaded her to return for A levels.
"Knowing I can get EMA gave me a push to come back. This will really help and made it really clear I should stay on.
"I take the bus to school which is only £2 a day but adds up and I also need money for stationery and books."
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Sixth former Raonaq Ali, 17, is studying imaths, chemistry, biology and physics A levels and wants to go on to medical school. He thinks his grades would be affected if he'd had to take a part time job during sixth form
(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne )
As a year 12 pupil Aaliyah Brito, 17, has been getting EMA since September. Studying Welsh, history, English literature and PE A levels she has a heavy text book bill as well as needing to pay for bus fares and revision guides.
"I would have come back without EMA but it has been a big help," she said. My sister is in the same school year so it is a lot of expense us both being at school."
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Evan Gill, 18, who is about to take maths, further maths, physics and geography A levels, said without the EMA he might not have been able to get the grades he needs to go on to university.
"It's been fundamental to my success," he said.
"Text books cost £20 odd each and even if you buy them second hand they are £10 and things like pens and paper for revision are surprisingly expensive. I work in the Principality Stadium and I would have had to take on more shifts there without EMA which would have affected my school work.
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"Things are more expensive and it can be a struggle. I have a sister in year 10 and an older sibling. I do know people who have not come back after 16 but EMA makes me feel more valued and I think education should be valued."
Matthew Rea is head of sixth form at Fitzalan High School in Cardiff
(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne )
Raonaq Ali, 17, who hopes to study medicine and become a doctor after A levels has used his £40 a week EMA to pay for fares to and from school, books and fees to enter to academic competitions.
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"Without EMA I would have needed to get a part-time job, which would have affected my grades," the year 12 pupil, who is studying maths, chemistry, biology and physics A levels.
"Having EMA makes me think I can focus on my studies and school and not have to get a part time job."
Money worries, working part time jobs and not having enough funds for the books and stationery they need, let along for fares and food at school can all take a toll on academic achievement, said Mr Rea.
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He welcomed the widened access to EMA saying it was important to remove barriers to education for those not from the most economically privileged backgrounds.
Further Education Minister Vikki Howells said the Welsh Government widened the criteria for eligibility for EMA on the advice and calculations of an independent review.
"I know a lot of students post-16 work part time and it can be tempting to increase that to full time and that affects study. EMA is linked to attendance so it encourages those receiving it to attend school."
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The new eligibility rules for £40 a week EMA payments in Wales
Households with one dependent child are now eligible if their income is £23,400 or less.
Households with two or more dependent children are now eligible if their income is £25,974 or less.
Individual schools or colleges will have a signed learning agreement with each learner setting out what their attendance must be for their programme of learning; failure to attend in accordance with this agreement may impact the learner's EMA.
EMA is retained at a lower rate of £30 in Scotland and Northern Ireland and was ended in England in 2011
New and continuing learners can check their eligibility and apply online here or speak to their school or college for help with applications.
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