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School Attendance: 'Earn as you learn' to extend across UK

1 min read
Teaching unions have welcomed the Government's announcement that "earn as you learn" allowances for post-16 pupils will be extended across England.

The scheme had been piloted in 56 of England's local education authorities.

The Scottish Executive is also rolling out a similar scheme for Scottish youngsters (News, 18 February).

"The UK has one of the highest post-16 drop-out rates in the western world," said Bob Carstairs, assistant general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association. "Anything that encourages children to stay on at school is a good thing."

Eamonn O'Kane, general secretary of NASUWT, said: "NASUWT does have some reservations about the means-tested basis for allocating the allowance.

"But the pilot schemes have demonstrated that financial support for post-16 pupils increases the numbers remaining in full-time education." From September 2004, all 16-year-olds from households with incomes under 30,000 will be eligible for a means-tested Education Maintenance Allowance of between 10 and 30 a week. It will be paid directly into their bank accounts in return for strong attendance and commitment.

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