TEENAGERS are set to get cash bonuses for good attendance at college as part of a new scheme to raise achievement.

Youngsters at further education colleges and sixth-forms throughout East Lancashire will get £25 per term if they attend at least 90 per cent of the time -- the equivalent of taking one day off every fortnight.

They'll get another £25 if they attend at least 95 per cent of the time and keep to a "learning agreement" laid down at the start of the term, with a £50 bonus if they finish their course. Students over 16 on full-time courses will also qualify for free transport no matter how far their home is from their chosen college. All students whose parents earn less than £30,000 a year will be eligible for the scheme.

The awards are part of a package of grants to be piloted by Lancashire County Council in Hyndburn, Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale and the Ribble Valley from next month for three years. It is one of 55 schemes nationwide, funded by the Government and aimed at encouraging young people to stay in education. It is expected to cost about £825,000 for the first year. In a report to Lancashire County councillors, council officer Alan Gregory said East Lancashire had been chosen because it had a range of transport problems, especially in rural areas.

The Government also wanted the cash to go to a poorer area where fewer youngsters stayed in education. As the scheme was only proposed in May, Year 11 pupils weren't told about the support available last term. The scheme is to be publicised in colleges and schools this term.

The report added: "The success of the pilot will also depend upon the active co-operation of the schools and colleges whose pupils and students will be recipients of this support. To this end steps have been taken through the summer to ensure that the institutions have been involved in the development of arrangements for establishing the scheme."

Last year, 15 "education maintenance allowance" schemes were introduced throughout Britain to give young people an incentive to achieve more, and cut crime including drug-related crime.

Mr Gregory said: "The Government believes the intitial evaluation of the pilots established last year is providing hard evidence of the projects' effectiveness -- EMAs are promoting a culture change."