EMA to go?

poet123

Perhaps, but I haven't seen any detail on the issue yet, still nothing new there, it will probably be published just after we have enrolled them!!

dawyldthing

Taiko wrote: »

Funding going from a centralised place to local authorities. Interesting...

its where it was originally sent from as when I was in 6th form (from 2003 - 2005) i got a grant for each half term (I think it was £300) that i met the conditions including turning up i think it was 95% of the time. I think its a shame they have centralised it all as I dealt with student loans through my LEA and found them really helpful, always there for any problems and I was never on the phone for hours to them. I think it is a lot better and I don't know why they changed it other than because of cost, which is not always the be all and end all as cost is one thing but when your on hold for hours at a time (which friends have found now it has all been centralised (student loans I mean) its just been a lot of problems.)

Wicked_witch

poet123 wrote: »

I am not sure how the new rules will work though. Although they may be required to be in education or training, will we as a college be required to keep them if their behaviour/attendance is such that we feel it untenable? Will it be a case of once we accept them we are stuck with them, or is the onus on them and their parents to ensure they find and keep a place in education?

Another thing that exercises me in my insomniac hours, poet. And what about my two local RC schools who did away with their own sixth forms altogether and instead built a joint one? Will they now have to finance new buildings, so the pupils can stay on? Or will they all have to go to the new sixth form building, which will be nowhere near large enough and is also located in another town entirely, which is already notorious for its apalling traffic problems during rush hours and its gang activity? Presumably they will have the option to go to other FE colleges, but most of them will be unable to get places in these other overcrowded institutions.

And if a tree falls in the woods and there is no one to hear it...

dawyldthing

Poples mentioned about the money funding a variety of different things. When I did my a-levels I got free school meals, my 6th form repaid me for my travel expenses and I got the grant if i attended all the time and I think if it was done the same I think it would be more beneficial than having the physical cash as then they only have to pay for personal items which hopefully can be saved for from savings/christmas and birthday money/ part time jobs while covering the basic needs in school/college.

As for when it is compulsory, I personally think and hope they are going to develop more modern apprentiships (i think its spelt wrong) and other courses that are practical and are needed as well as other more academic subjects as there not for everyone and if they go down this path there will be many teachers and lecturers going home every evening because of teaching young people that doesn't want to be there. Plus theres already the factor of the ones that don't go already from being aged about 13+ that they need to deal with too.

Oldernotwiser

dawyldthing wrote: »

its where it was originally sent from as when I was in 6th form (from 2003 - 2005) i got a grant for each half term (I think it was £300) that i met the conditions including turning up i think it was 95% of the time. I think its a shame they have centralised it all as I dealt with student loans through my LEA and found them really helpful, always there for any problems and I was never on the phone for hours to them. I think it is a lot better and I don't know why they changed it other than because of cost, which is not always the be all and end all as cost is one thing but when your on hold for hours at a time (which friends have found now it has all been centralised (student loans I mean) its just been a lot of problems.)

Are you sure that was EMA? AFAIK it's never been given on a termly basis, only weekly.

Oldernotwiser

Wicked_witch wrote: »

Another thing that exercises me in my insomniac hours, poet. And what about my two local RC schools who did away with their own sixth forms altogether and instead built a joint one? Will they now have to finance new buildings, so the pupils can stay on? Or will they all have to go to the new sixth form building, which will be nowhere near large enough and is also located in another town entirely, which is already notorious for its apalling traffic problems during rush hours and its gang activity? Presumably they will have the option to go to other FE colleges, but most of them will be unable to get places in these other overcrowded institutions.

And if a tree falls in the woods and there is no one to hear it...

Don't forget, they don't actually have to be in education. Jobs with training (and presumably any new "schemes" that may be introduced) count as well. It's really not another ROSLA, whatever some people may think.

dawyldthing

arr no mine wasn't ema, i think it was the government scheme just before ema

Madmonk

I wonder if they are scrapping the adult maintenance grant as well? I believe that is £30 per week ?

MM

poet123

ALG is paid if you are over 19 and doing a course higher than the level of your highest cert. Not heard about any changes to that, but the devil is in the detail of these cuts.

newleaf

Speaking as a person who came from a very poor household, and was unable to stay on at school even for 6th form, I think EMA is a good thing. If it had existed in the 70's, when I was a school leaver, it would have made all the difference and my life would probably have progressed very differently.
I think it is a terrible shame if it goes.