To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of students at the London Academy (a) are entitled to free school meals, (b) are in receipt of education maintenance allowance, (c) have a special educational need and (d) have a mother tongue other than English. (177679)

The following table provides data on the number and percentage of students at the London Academy who:

(a) are eligible for free school meals (FSM);

(c) have a special educational need (SEN);

(d) have English as an additional language.

The Learning and Skills Council operate the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) scheme for the Department and hold the information about take-up and payments made under the scheme. Mark Haysom, the Council's chief executive, will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 21 January 2008:

I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question that asked: “How many and percentage of students at the London Academy (a) are entitled to free school meals, (b) are in receipt of educational maintenance allowance, (c) have a special educational need and (d) have a mother tongue other than English.”

EMA take-up is defined as young people who have received one or more EMA payments in the academic year.

EMA take-up for the London Academy is as follows:

EMA take-up data showing the number of young people who have received one or more EMA payments during 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07 and to date in 2007/08 is now also available on the LSC website, at the following address:

http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/Data/statistics/learner/EMA_take_up.htm