Bursaries

2022/23 Bursary Applications

• Bursary Fund – Guidance notes and application form

 

The 16-19 bursary applications for the 2022/2023 academic year will be open from Monday 26th September 2022 and will close on Friday 7th October 2022.

 

What is the 16-19 Bursary Fund?

The fund is made available from the government for 16-19 year olds to provide assistance to students whose access to, or completion of, education is inhibited by financial constraints or barriers.

 

Who is eligible to apply for 16-19 Bursary Funding?

Students following government funded full time courses, who are 16 years and over and satisfy one or more of the following criteria :-

• Students aged at least 16 and under 19 years of age on 31/08/22 who are in care, are leaving care, are in direct receipt of Income Support or Universal Credit, or are receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in their own right as well as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own right
• Students aged 19 or over who have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
• Students aged 19 or over at 31/08/22 who are continuing on a study programme they began aged 16 to 18 (‘19+ continuers’
• Students who are economically or socially disadvantaged and at risk of not taking up or continuing in their education. This group includes students with physical or other disabilities, medical conditions and/or learning difficulties
• Students who have been in care, on probation, are young parents or are otherwise considered at risk
• Unaccompanied Asylum seekers
• Refugees (who will have access to 16-19 Bursary Funding if they are in receipt of supportive evidence from DWP)
• Lone parents

 

Who is NOT eligible to apply for 16-19 Bursary Funding?

Students following government funded full time courses, who are 16 years and over and satisfy one or more of the following criteria :-

• Students under 16 years of age or over 19 years of age on 31/08/2022
• Students who do not meet the residency qualifications
• Accompanied asylum seeking children (under 18 with an adult relative or partner). Generally, asylum seekers are not entitled to public funds. However, Institutions can provide in-kind student support such as course related books, equipment or a travel pass.

 

How does the Academy assess applications and allocate 16-19 Bursary funding?

The 16-19 Bursary Fund is a limited fund and the Academy will prioritise allocation. There will be 3 priority groups, categorised as high, medium and low.

 

High Priority

Students aged under 19 on 31/08/22 and who fall into one of the following categories:

• Are currently in care (as defined by social services)
• Are leaving or have recently left care
• Are in receipt of Income Support or Universal Credit in their own name
• Are disabled and in receipt of both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments.

 

Medium Priority

Students who fall into the following category:

• Have a gross annual household income of below £20,000.

 

Eligible students in the high and medium priority groups, if they apply to the 16–19 Bursary Fund by 7th October 2022, may be eligible to:

• A bursary of up to £1000, if aged under 19 on 31 August 2022, dependent on meeting agreed attendance and progress criteria.

 

This will be subject to availability of funds.

Payments will be made on a termly basis (e.g. 3 times per year).

 

Low Priority

Students who fall into the following category:

• Have a gross annual household income of between £20,000 and £25,000

 

Those in the low priority group will be considered for funding based on the Academy allocation and subject to available funding after those in the high and medium priority groups have been awarded.

Students in this group may receive a contribution towards the cost of essential course equipment and transport costs which could include: –

• Course equipment – textbooks or revision guides
• Trips related to subjects – 50% of total cost with a maximum contribution of £150
• Resit costs – 50%
• Travel costs according to distance – help with public transport costs if you live more than 2 miles away from Sixth Form and on production of tickets

Students may not use Bursary support for the purchase of a Laptop or mobile devices.

Pre-approval for the above items will be required before any payments will be made. Payments will be made on as and when required basis.

Students qualifying for the full bursary will be dealt with on a priority basis and all other payments will be made subject to final applicant numbers.

 

Vulnerable Student Bursary

You could get up to £1,200 if at least 1 of the following applies:

• You are in or recently left local authority care
• You get Income Support or Universal Credit because you’re financially supporting yourself
• You get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in your name and either Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit
• You get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in your name and either ESA or Universal Credit

If you’re a parent, you’ll also need to be living away from your own parents to qualify.

You may get the full amount if you have expenses and study full-time on a course of at least 30 weeks. You’ll usually get less, or no bursary, if your course is shorter, you study part time or have few expenses. You’ll be told what evidence you need, e.g. benefit letters.

 

Discretionary Bursary

The Academy sets its own criteria for discretionary bursaries, e.g. we will look at family income.

*IMPORTANT* – The Academy can stop payments if you break the Sixth Form Code of Conduct – for example not attending Tutor Time/Lessons, or do not spend the money on the items you requested help to purchase.

 

Documents

• Click here to download a bursary application form.