Which policy aims to reduce inequalities in achievement by providing money for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to encourage them to stay in post-16 education?

Which policy aims to reduce inequalities in achievement by providing money for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to encourage them to stay in post-16 education?

• A. EMA (Educational Maintenance Allowance) provides money for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to encourage them to stay in post-16 education.
• B. Excellence in Cities uses learning mentors to raise achievement for gifted and talented students.
• C. Aim Higher Programme raises aspirations for disadvantaged students going to higher education.
• D. Sure Start Programme supports families with preschool children.

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is using money as a lever to remove financial barriers that keep students from disadvantaged backgrounds from staying in education after age 16. Educational Maintenance Allowance fits this precisely: it provides regular funds to students from low-income families to encourage them to remain in post-16 education, with payments tied to attendance and staying on a course. By directly easing the cost of continuing education, it targets inequality in achievement at a stage when many students drop out or disengage due to financial pressures. The other policies focus on different approaches—mentoring for gifted and talented students, programs to raise aspirations for attending university, or support for families with preschool children—not on providing direct financial incentives to keep disadvantaged students in post-16 education.

The idea being tested is using money as a lever to remove financial barriers that keep students from disadvantaged backgrounds from staying in education after age 16. Educational Maintenance Allowance fits this precisely: it provides regular funds to students from low-income families to encourage them to remain in post-16 education, with payments tied to attendance and staying on a course. By directly easing the cost of continuing education, it targets inequality in achievement at a stage when many students drop out or disengage due to financial pressures.

The other policies focus on different approaches—mentoring for gifted and talented students, programs to raise aspirations for attending university, or support for families with preschool children—not on providing direct financial incentives to keep disadvantaged students in post-16 education.