16-19 Financial Support
We know that moving into further education can be a difficult time for anyone and we want to ensure that everyone has exactly the same opportunities across the board. We believe that there should be no barriers to learning, particularly financial barriers and we intend to eliminate these as far as possible within sixth form.
The 16-19 Bursary Fund provides support to help students complete their course where they would otherwise be prohibited from doing so on financial grounds.
Vulnerable learners could get a bursary of up to £1,200 a year and students from households on incomes of less than £35,000, can still receive a Discretionary Bursary to help pay for education-related costs, based on their actual financial need.
Discretionary Bursary
The current eligibility criteria for the discretionary bursary are as follows:
- Student is in receipt of free schools meals (at the end of Year 11)
- Family is in receipt of Income Support
- Family is in receipt of Child Tax Credits
- Family is in receipt of Working Tax Credits
- Household is in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance or Universal Credit
- Household is in receipt of Pensions Guarantee Credit
- Household is in receipt of Employment Support Allowance
- Household is in Support under Part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Household income is below £35,000 for the last tax year
Evidence of eligibility will be required upon application, for example Tax Credits forms, P60, bank statements etc
Vulnerable Bursary Details
This bursary is only available to students who are considered in need of a high level of support, such as:
- Students in care, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking students
- Students who are care leavers
- Students in receipt of Income Support or the equivalent Universal Credit in their own right
- Students in receipt of both Employment Support Allowance (or Universal Credit as a replacement for ESA) and Disability Living Allowance in their own right.
Vulnerable students will receive a maximum bursary of £1,200.
Process in September
During the first week of term in September all students will be given a bursary application form, if you feel you are eligible for financial support or would like to apply then please return this form as soon as possible. Once this form has been returned and assessed you will receive formal confirmation of your application. Supporting evidence must be provided alongside the application to be able to assess the student's eligibility.
We should be able to inform you within one week of your application whether you have been successful.
