Further Education and funding for 16 to 19 year olds

 

Courses of further education include:
A-Levels and AS Levels
GNVQ
NVQ
BTEC First and National Diplomas

Work Based Learning

Education Maintenance Allowances are available to 16-19 year olds on full time (12 or more guided learning hours) courses of further education, LSC-funded Entry to Employment (E2E) programmes and Programme Led Apprenticeships.

You may study these courses at a school sixth form or Further Education College. FE colleges in Rotherham are Rotherham College of Arts and Technology and Dearne Valley College. Rotherham also has one sixth form college: Thomas Rotherham College and there are school sixth forms at Aston, Brinsworth, Dinnington, Maltby, Wath, Wales and Wickersley comprehensive schools.

Education Maintenance Allowances (EMA)

EMA is a weekly payment of £10, £20 or £30 a week depending on household income. The money is intended to help with the day-to-day costs for staying on at school or college – such as travel, books and equipment for the course.
The amount received will depend upon the amount of money coming in to the household where the student lives. Those students whose parents/guardians have a joint income of less than £30,810 per year will receive at least £10 per week and maybe as much as £30 per week if their family’s income is less than £20,817 per year.
Students must attend their course regularly and keep to a learning agreement in order to keep their weekly EMA payment and receive any bonus payments.
Application forms will be available at schools or via the national helpline
0845 10 16 2 19 from April 2006.

 Educational Maintenance Allowance

School Access Funds

Students aged 16 to 19 who study at a school sixth form may be entitled to receive financial support from Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. Applicants must be resident in Rotherham when they apply for support.
Full details of the School Access Fund scheme and application forms are available from the Student Support Team in Rotherham.


College Access Funds

Colleges providing further education courses (such as Dearne Valley College, Rotherham College of Arts and Technology and Thomas Rotherham College) also have Access funds, which they use to provide financial support to their students. Students at these colleges should apply directly to the college for advice on financial support.