Extend East End grants for poor pupils to all councils, say teachers

 

A scheme that pays the poorest teenagers in London to stay at school must be rolled out across the country, teachers have urged.

Schools leaders called for the Mayor’s Education Award, which is given to students in Tower Hamlets, to be copied by every council in England.

The £1.7 million project was launched last year after Education Secretary Michael Gove scrapped the education maintenance allowance, which had been paid to the poorest students to help them with travel, food and book costs. Tower Hamlets council now pays disadvantaged students up to £400 a year in two instalments to help them stay in education. Southwark council has launched a similar scheme.

Teachers at the ATL union conference in Manchester voted overwhelmingly to call on councils across England to follow the lead of Tower Hamlets.

They condemned the Government for cutting the national EMA scheme, saying some young people cannot now afford to travel to college.

Abdul Choudhury, a governor of Mulberry School for Girls in Tower Hamlets, said he would not have taken A-levels or gone to university if he had not had a government grant.

He said: “The education maintenance allowance is very personal to me. It had a major effect on my life and, more importantly, it has had an effect on my son’s life. The Government seems unable to see the wider picture — that the grant that I got at 16 has helped another generation.”

Matt Mugan of Strode College, Somerset, said: “It has been suggested to some students that they go without food to be able to afford their travel.”

But James Mills of the campaign group Save EMA said that if all councils launch their own schemes, a postcode lottery would be created. “The work by Tower Hamlets and other London councils is admirable but a London-wide EMA would be best for teenagers in London. A national scheme would be the best policy,” he added.

Anne Canning, head of learning and achievement at Tower Hamlets, said: “We are very pleased that teachers and professionals across the country share in our commitment to support young people through post-16 education.

“The Mayor’s Education Award demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that our young people can continue their education, and access the financial support they need to get the best possible start in life.

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