Evaluation of financial support for students in further education in Wales

The report concluded that:

• the Education Maintenance Allowance and Assembly Learning Grant (Further Education) administrative schemes have very similar aims and objectives in terms of incentivising those of post-compulsory education age to continue in or return to further education
• the Financial Contingency Fund (Further Education) discretionary scheme was established to provide support to further education students at a time of need but in reality is being administered in a much more systematic way to fund planned costs and provisions, particularly in terms of transport and childcare.

The report recommends a single administrative grant scheme and that the household income criteria for this new administrative scheme be set at a similar level as the current Welsh Government Learning Grant (further education) threshold of £18,370 or less, and seeking more effective ways of funding some of the costs currently accommodated via the Financial Contingency Fund (further education) Scheme, particularly transport and childcare costs.

The report makes 14 strategic recommendations covering post-compulsory student finance.